By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Tension is currently high in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State as gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in the early hours of Friday, December 2, abducted a deputy Imam simply identified as Mallam Muhammadu Sani and living eleven (11) worshippers injured.
The Imam and other worshippers were observing their early morning prayer at a Mosque at Otovwievwiere when the gunmen, five in numbers came in an unidentified Toyota Sienna at about 6:am and started shooting sporadically before abducting their victim.
Speaking to newsmen on the incident, Secretary of Arewa Community, Ughelli North, Darlington Ahmed Garma said, “At about 6.15 am, 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 prayers 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.Â
When newsmen got to Ughelli Central Hospital, some of the eleven victims were seen at the Accident and Emergency unit receiving treatment.
Efforts to speak with the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright was not successful as calls to his lines were not answered nor returned as at the time of this report.