Terrorists in their numbers riding on motorcycles invaded New Life for All Church in Jan-Tsauni, Gidan Haruna, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina, abducting no fewer than 25 worshipers.
The incident was said to have occurred around 10am on Sunday during church service.
The Senior Special Assistant on Christian Affairs to Governor Aminu Masari, Rev. Ishaya Jurau, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with THISDAY on Sunday.
He said: “Bandits attacked New Life for All Church in Jan-Tsauni, Gidan Haruna in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State today (Sunday) around 10am.
“They abducted 25 worshippers and left the church pastor with injuries while they were conducting service this morning”.
The spokesman of the Katsina state police command, Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident, stating however that five people were abducted.
He said the assailants stormed the village around 7am on Sunday and kidnapped the victims on their way to church.
He said those abducted included two teenagers aged 15 and 13 years.
Isah said the victims were taken to a church, the New Life for All Church, within the community where a pastor was shot.
“The incident happened in the village and the kidnappers carried people to the church. Five people were abducted. The pastor of the church was shot in one of his hands and he is currently receiving treatment,” the police spokesperson said.
He added that those abducted are all women adding that the youngest among them are aged 15 and 13 years, respectively.
They were abducted on their way to church service. The incident happened around 7am on Sunday”, he said.
