They Were Praying When Bullets Rained”: Katsina Mosque Massacre Leaves 32 Dead
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, what should have been a moment of peace and devotion turned into a scene of horror. Worshippers at a mosque in Unguwan Mantau community, Malumfashi Local Government, Katsina State, were gunned down by armed bandits during Fajr (dawn) prayers.
The attack, described as a reprisal assault, has now claimed 32 lives — making it one of the deadliest single incidents of bandit violence in recent months.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to officials, the assailants stormed the mosque around 5 a.m., firing indiscriminately at worshippers. Initial reports estimated 13 deaths, but a state government delegation later confirmed that 32 people were killed and several others abducted.
The Nigerian Air Force launched a swift air strike that disrupted the attackers’ movement, allowing some kidnapped victims to escape. Survivors are currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
Why the Community Was Targeted
Security sources revealed that the massacre followed a confrontation days earlier. In Ruwan Sanyi village, residents had ambushed bandits, killed several, rescued abducted victims, and seized weapons and motorcycles.
The mosque attack appears to have been a bloody retaliation. Katsina Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, confirmed that the gunmen “started shooting sporadically inside the mosque” in revenge.
Government Response: Promises and Reinforcements
Governor Dikko Umar Radda, though on medical leave, directed Acting Governor Faruk Jobe to send a high-powered delegation led by the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari, to commiserate with families.
Faskari called the killings “deeply painful and heartbreaking,” assuring residents that security operations would be intensified to track down the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, military and police reinforcements, including aerial surveillance, have been deployed to pursue the attackers.
The Bigger Picture: Banditry and Rising Insecurity in Northern Nigeria
This attack underscores a grim reality: banditry remains one of Nigeria’s gravest security challenges. Rural communities in states like Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Sokoto have endured repeated assaults — often while farming, trading, or, as in this case, praying.
The tactics are chillingly familiar:
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Night and dawn raids on villages and mosques
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Mass abductions for ransom
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Targeted reprisals when residents resist
Experts warn that these attacks are eroding trust in government security promises and creating cycles of violence where communities feel compelled to take justice into their own hands.
The Human Cost: Grief Beyond Numbers
Behind every casualty figure are shattered families. Grieving relatives in Karfi town, where the government delegation was received, wept as traditional leaders prayed for the dead.
“The criminals took our loved ones while they were worshipping Allah. It is painful beyond words,” one resident told journalists.
For many in Katsina, this attack is not just a statistic — it is a stark reminder that even sacred spaces are no longer safe.
Conclusion: Can Nigeria Break the Cycle?
The Katsina mosque massacre is yet another wake-up call for Nigeria’s leaders. Beyond promises and condolence visits, what Nigerians crave is tangible security — the ability to farm, pray, and live without fear of bandits.
Until decisive action disrupts the networks that fund, arm, and shield these groups, rural communities may continue to pay the heaviest price.
For now, the people of Katsina are left to bury their dead and pray that justice will come swiftly.
