Gunmen attack Taraba mosque during prayers, kill district head

Gunmen have attacked a mosque in Maisamari community in Sardauna LGA, Taraba, killing Abdulkadir Sufiyanu, the district head.

The gunmen were said to have shot dead the district head during the Ishai prayers at the mosque, on Monday night.

TheCable learnt that the gunmen invaded the mosque during the prayers around 7:30pm on Monday and started shooting sporadically.

Sufiyanu has been buried based on Islamic rites.

Speaking with TheCable, Usman Abdullahi, Taraba police spokesperson, on Wednesday, said only the district head was killed during the attack, adding that the gunmen came specifically to attack the deceased.

Abdullahi said the nobody was abducted during the attack.

The Taraba police spokesperson said police officers are currently on the trail of those who launched the attack.

“The Muslim faithful gathered in the mosque for prayer on Monday evening, around 7:30pm, before the unfortunate incident took place,” he said.

“Unknown gunmen came, pretended to come from prayer in the mosque and opened fire, killing the district head.”

This is not the first time gunmen will attack worshippers in mosques during prayers in Taraba.

Last Tuesday, gunmen attacked a mosque in Bali Jali village, Bali LGA of Taraba state as worshippers were breaking their fast, abducting many of them.

In December 2021, gunmen invaded a mosque at Tella town in Gassol LGA of the state, abducting four worshippers.