Armed men on Tuesday attacked a mosque in Gidan Mantau, near Malumfashi, Katsina State, killing at least 23 worshippers during Subhi (morning) prayers. While the state government confirmed 13 deaths, local sources put the toll as high as 27, with many others injured.
Officials said the assault was a reprisal after residents recently ambushed bandits, killing some and seizing weapons. Katsina’s Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Nasir Muazu, confirmed that reinforcements were deployed.
Acting Governor Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, standing in for Governor Dikko Radda, appealed to President Bola Tinubu for urgent intervention, stressing the need for stronger federal support.
The attack triggered protests in Malumfashi, where residents blocked roads before police dispersed them. Security experts linked the rising violence to porous borders, weak governance, and the failure of peace accords, warning that communities are losing trust in state protection.
The Katsina killings add to a growing pattern of assaults on worshippers in the North-West, including recent attacks in Sokoto where gunmen struck during prayers. Residents fear renewed violence as the farming season begins.
