Thirteen worshippers were gunned down in the early hours of Tuesday when armed men stormed a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The assailants struck around 5 a.m. during dawn (Fajr) prayers, opening fire indiscriminately on the congregation.
Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, confirmed the incident, describing it as a possible reprisal attack. According to him, villagers recently ambushed a bandit gang in the area, killing several members, rescuing kidnap victims, and seizing weapons.
“The victims were observing prayers when the criminals started shooting sporadically,” Mu’azu said. He added that troops of the army, police, and air force had since been deployed to restore order.
The commissioner noted that bandits often exploit tall crops during the rainy season to conceal their movements and carry out surprise raids.
While commending the bravery of residents who have resisted criminal gangs, the state government urged closer collaboration with security agencies to prevent further bloodshed. Authorities pledged additional reinforcements to protect farming communities.
Katsina, home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has in recent years remained a flashpoint of banditry in the North-West, where armed groups carry out kidnappings, extortion, and deadly raids despite sustained military operations.
