The attack in the Bukkuyum local government area took place during Friday prayers at the central Jumu’at mosque in the town of Ruwan Jema, three residents told Reuters.
“The armed bandits arrived on motorbikes holding their guns and headed straight for the mosque and started shooting at us sporadically,” said resident Amimu Mustapha.
Another resident who asked not to be named said the attack took place around 2 p.m. local time, adding that there were many others injured.
A Zamfara state police spokesman did not immediately respond to calls or text messages seeking to confirm the residents’ reports.
In August, residents of Ruwan Jema said they gave the bandits 9 million naira ($21,000), petrol and cigarettes with the promise that the men would leave them alone.
Gangs of heavily armed men, known locally as bandits, have wreaked havoc in northwestern Nigeria over the past two years, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds and making travel dangerous. the road or agriculture in certain regions.
The attacks have baffled the overstretched security forces. Last week the army warned residents of Zamfara and two other states to leave forest areas ahead of a bombing campaign targeting bandits and terrorists.
($1 = 430.0500 naira)