At least 13 worshippers were killed in the early hours of Wednesday when armed gunmen stormed a mosque in Unguwan Mantau, Katsina State. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and opened fire during morning prayers, causing chaos and panic among worshippers.
The victims, mostly men, were killed instantly, while several others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at local hospitals. Security agencies have since cordoned off the area and launched a manhunt for the perpetrators.
Authorities suspect the attack is linked to escalating farmer–herder conflicts and banditry that have plagued northwestern Nigeria for years. Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda condemned the attack, describing it as “an inhumane assault on innocent citizens.” He promised improved security surveillance in the affected communities.
The Nigerian military has been deployed to restore calm, but residents expressed fear that the violence could spread further if decisive action is not taken. Human rights groups have called on the federal government to address the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, land disputes, and lack of development in rural communities.