At least 13 worshippers were killed on Tuesday when armed men attacked a mosque in Unguwar Mantau community, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, during early morning prayers.
Residents said the gunmen stormed the mosque during the Fajr prayer and opened fire on worshippers, leaving many others injured. Some victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, with locals fearing the death toll could rise. A community member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the fatalities had already climbed to 22.
Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Muazu, confirmed the attack, describing it as a reprisal by criminal elements. He explained that two days earlier, members of the community had ambushed bandits, killing several of them, rescuing kidnapped victims from Ruwan Sanyi village, and seizing three motorcycles and two AK-47 rifles.
“The Muslim members of the community were praying in the mosque during the Fajr prayer when the criminal elements started shooting sporadically,” Muazu said.
He added that the state government had immediately deployed security reinforcements, including units from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police, and the air component of the Forward Operating Base, to restore order and pursue the attackers.
READ ALSO: Village Head Arrested for Alleged Bandit Ties in Katsina
“During the rainy season, bandits hide under crops to perpetrate their evil acts. We are working to bring them to book. As government, we salute the gallantry of the people of Unguwar Mantau, and we are committed to fighting these bandits and ensuring safety across our communities,” the commissioner said.
The state government extended condolences to families of the victims and pledged continued support for community-based security initiatives while intensifying efforts to eliminate criminal groups across the region.
The attack is the latest in a string of violent assaults on rural communities in Katsina, a state frequently targeted by armed groups.