From Ben Dunno, Warri
The Imam (Muslim faithful leader) of a mosque in Ughelli, Delta state, simply identified as Mallam Muhammadu Sani, has been kidnapped by some unknown gunmen, who stormed the worship centre located in the heart of the town in the early hours of today.
Also about 12 worshippers who were observing their early morning Jumat prayers in the mosque, sustained different degrees of injuries during the invasion as the dreaded gunmen spared no one that stood on their way while the operation lasted.
Sources close to the scene of the incident disclosed that the unidentified gunmen numbering about five invaded the mosque cited at Otovwievwiere street in Okorodafe axis of the Ughelli metropolis at about 6am today in a Toyota Sienna Bus.
It was gathered that invaders in a “Commando like Operation”, started shooting sporadically at all directions to announce their presence and instilled fears among the residents of the area and worshippers in the mosque before abducting their victim and immediately zoomed away from the scene.
Speaking to newsmen on the incident, Secretary of Arewa Community, Ughelli North, Darlington Ahmed Garma said, “At about 6am, unknown persons came with an ash colour Toyota Sienna, they parked opposite the mosque.
“Two men entered the Mosque, as they were taking the Imam, Mallam Muhammadu Sani away, they told the remaining members that were performing their morning prayer to go outside.
“Before they got outside the mosque, eleven worshippers were shut and they are currently on admission at Ughelli Central Hospital.
One of the injured victims that spoke from the hospital bed, Muhammed Bagudu,63, disclosed that the gunmen with their faces masked entered the mosque and begin to shoot people.
“They shot me, my brother, one of the Imams and went away with another Imam, Muhammadu Sani from Katsina state.
When newsmen got to Ughelli Central Hospital, some of the eleven victims were at seen at the Accident and Emergency unit receiving treatment.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the incident to Our Correspondent when contacted on the telephone yesterday but noted that the good part was that no life was lost in the attack.