Thirteen worshippers were gunned down in the early hours of Tuesday when armed men invaded a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, during dawn (Fajr) prayers.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the mosque around 5 a.m. and opened fire indiscriminately on the congregation, leaving many dead and others injured.
Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed the incident, describing it as a possible reprisal following a recent clash in which villagers ambushed a bandit group.
“The victims were observing prayers when the criminals started shooting sporadically,” Mu’azu said, adding that security personnel from the army, police and air force had been deployed to the area to restore calm.
He further explained that bandits often exploit the rainy season, using tall crops as cover to carry out sudden raids on unsuspecting communities.
The state government, while praising the bravery of locals who have stood their ground against criminal gangs, urged residents to work more closely with security agencies to prevent further bloodshed.
It also assured that additional reinforcements would be sent to protect vulnerable farming settlements.