Katsina Mosque Attack: Armed assailants in north-western Nigeria launched an attack on a mosque, fatally shooting several Muslim worshippers in what local authorities have described as a retaliatory assault.
A senseless dawn massacre claimed the lives of at least 32 worshippers at a mosque in Unguwan Mantau, located in the Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State. The attack struck during the sacred Fajr (dawn) prayers when armed bandits descended on the vulnerable congregation around 5 a.m., turning a moment of devotion into tragedy.
Number of fatalities following Katsina Mosque Attack
Initial reports had put the number of fatalities at 13. However, during a Wednesday condolence visit by a state government delegation, the revised death toll was confirmed at 32, while several residents were also reported abducted.
In a swift and dramatic response, the Nigerian Air Force executed an aerial strike that disrupted the attackers while others fled. A number of abducted residents were rescued, and several survivors—disoriented and injured—have since been admitted to nearby hospitals.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda, currently on medical leave, instructed Acting Governor Malam Faruk Jobe to urgently lead a high-powered delegation into the community. Led by Secretary to the State Government Abdullahi Faskari, the team was received by traditional elders and grieving families in nearby Karfi town, where they offered comfort and solidarity.
Describing the bloodshed as “deeply painful and heartbreaking,” Faskari pledged intensified security measures. “Our hearts go out to the families who lost loved ones in this senseless attack. We stand determined to work with all security agencies to ensure this never happens again,” he affirmed.
Security Commissioner Dr. Nasir Mu’azu provided insight into the origins of the strike, terming it a reprisal attack. Days earlier, local residents had launched a successful ambush against the bandits—liberating kidnapped victims, seizing two AK‑47 rifles, and recovering three motorcycles from Ruwan Sanyi village.
He added that reinforcements—comprising army, police, and air force units—have been deployed to pursue the perpetrators. Mu’azu noted that bandits often exploit the dense crops of the rainy season to conceal operations, underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts to flush them out.
Mu’azu also praised the bravery of community members who resisted the bandits, describing their courage as gallant. He reaffirmed the government’s support for community-led security initiatives and vowed sustained assistance to affected families.
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