A group of gunmen attacked a mosque as the worshippers were observing their weekly Friday prayers in a&nbsp;remote Dutsen Gari village in Maru district.

Around 100 cattle thieves on motorcycles opened fire on the congregation, killing at least five worshippers and kidnapping nearly 18, the local police reported on Sunday.

"The bandits killed five worshippers and kidnapped 18 others, including the imam," state police spokesman Mohammed Shehu told AFP.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nigeria-admits-soldiers-had-live-bullets-at-lekki-toll-gate-protest-344654">Nigeria admits soldiers had live bullets at Lekki Toll Gate protest</a>

The incident happened&nbsp;in northwestern Nigeria's Zamfara state. While the local police is claiming abduction of 18 worshippers, local residents are disputing the claim and have said more than 30 people have been kidnapped.

"The gunmen attacked the mosque while the imam was delivering the sermon and took away more than 30 people, including the imam, after shooting dead five worshippers," one resident, Ibrahim Altine, told AFP.

This incident has not been a work of the&nbsp;Boko Haram jihadists. This group, reportedly, has no&nbsp;ideological leanings but the terror being spread by the group is increasing on an alarming rate. The government has been trying to bring peace in the region as the gang maintains its camps&nbsp;in the Rugu forest, raiding villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping local residents for ransom and looting food supplies. However, the local authorities have faced to reach a conclusion in the peace talks.

A group of gunmen attacked a mosque as the worshippers were observing their weekly Friday prayers in a remote Dutsen Gari village in Maru district. Around 100 cattle thieves on motorcycles opened fire on the congregation, killing at least five worshippers and kidnapping nearly 18, the local police reported on Sunday.

A group of gunmen attacked a mosque as the worshippers were observing their weekly Friday prayers in a remote Dutsen Gari village in Maru district. Around 100 cattle thieves on motorcycles opened fire on the congregation, killing at least five worshippers and kidnapping nearly 18, the local police reported on Sunday. "The bandits killed five worshippers and kidnapped 18 others, including the imam," state police spokesman Mohammed Shehu told AFP. Also read| Nigeria admits soldiers had live bullets at Lekki Toll Gate protest The incident happened in northwestern Nigeria's Zamfara state. While the local police is claiming abduction of 18 worshippers, local residents are disputing the claim and have said more than 30 people have been kidnapped. "The gunmen attacked the mosque while the imam was delivering the sermon and took away more than 30 people, including the imam, after shooting dead five worshippers," one resident, Ibrahim Altine, told AFP. This incident has not been a work of the Boko Haram jihadists. This group, reportedly, has no ideological leanings but the terror being spread by the group is increasing on an alarming rate. The government has been trying to bring peace in the region as the gang maintains its camps in the Rugu forest, raiding villages, stealing cattle and kidnapping local residents for ransom and looting food supplies. However, the local authorities have faced to reach a conclusion in the peace talks.

Five dead, 18 kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria: Police

Gunmen stormed a Catholic church in a town in southeast Nigeria early Sunday, killing 12 worshippers, hospital sources and witnesses said.&nbsp;

The attack took place at around 6am at St&nbsp;Philip`s church in Ozubulu, near the city of Onitsha, witnesses said.

&quot;So far, 12 persons have been confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary here while several persons are receiving medical attention,&quot; a staff worker at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, where the victims were admitted, told AFP.&nbsp;

Several worshippers with gunshot wounds were receiving treatment at the hospital, the source said.&nbsp;

Witnesses said five gunmen in masks stormed the church and opened fire on worshippers. They feared that up to 20 people may have died.

In contrast, Anambra State Police Commissioner Garba Umar said the attacker was a lone gunman, who &quot;went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding&quot; worshippers.

Witness Chukwuma Emeka said he had just stepped out of the church to stretch his legs &quot;when I heard gunshots and screaming and people running inside.&quot;

&quot;When the chaos subsided I went inside, I saw my fellow church members dead in a pool of their own blood and many others were screaming in pain.&quot;

Security agents were said to have cordoned off the church.&nbsp;

The attack took place at around 6am at St?Philip`s church in Ozubulu, near the city of Onitsha, witnesses said

Gunmen stormed a Catholic church in a town in southeast Nigeria early Sunday, killing 12 worshippers, hospital sources and witnesses said. The attack took place at around 6am at St Philip`s church in Ozubulu, near the city of Onitsha, witnesses said. "So far, 12 persons have been confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary here while several persons are receiving medical attention," a staff worker at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, where the victims were admitted, told AFP. Several worshippers with gunshot wounds were receiving treatment at the hospital, the source said. Witnesses said five gunmen in masks stormed the church and opened fire on worshippers. They feared that up to 20 people may have died. In contrast, Anambra State Police Commissioner Garba Umar said the attacker was a lone gunman, who "went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding" worshippers. Witness Chukwuma Emeka said he had just stepped out of the church to stretch his legs "when I heard gunshots and screaming and people running inside." "When the chaos subsided I went inside, I saw my fellow church members dead in a pool of their own blood and many others were screaming in pain." Security agents were said to have cordoned off the church.

12 killed in church attack in Nigeria

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Five dead, 18 kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria: Police

12 killed in church attack in Nigeria