Gunmen Kill 13 Worshippers in Katsina Mosque Attack

KATSINA — Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning when gunmen invaded a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing 13 worshippers during dawn (Fajr) prayers.

The assailants reportedly stormed the mosque around 5 a.m., opening fire on congregants and shooting indiscriminately.

Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, confirmed the incident, describing it as a reprisal attack. He explained that the assault followed a recent clash in which villagers ambushed a group of bandits, killing several, rescuing kidnapped victims, and recovering weapons.

“The victims were observing prayers when the criminals started shooting sporadically,” Mu’azu said. He added that security personnel from the army, police, and air force had since been deployed to restore calm in the community.

The commissioner noted that during the rainy season, bandits often exploit tall crops to conceal their movements and launch surprise attacks.

While commending villagers for their bravery in resisting bandit incursions, the state government urged residents to work more closely with security agencies to prevent further loss of life. Authorities have also promised additional reinforcements to protect farming communities across the state.

Katsina, the home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained a hotspot of banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed groups continue to carry out mass abductions, extortion, and deadly raids despite sustained military operations.