Thirteen worshippers were gunned down in the early hours of Tuesday when armed men stormed a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The attack occurred around 5 a.m. during dawn prayers, with the assailants reportedly firing indiscriminately at the congregation.
Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, confirmed the incident, describing it as a reprisal strike.
He said the assault was linked to a recent ambush by villagers on a bandit group, during which several bandits were killed, kidnap victims freed, and weapons recovered.
“The victims were observing prayers when the criminals started shooting sporadically,” Mu’azu said.
He added that troops of the army, police, and air force have been deployed to restore order.
He also noted that bandits often exploit the cover of tall crops during the rainy season to launch surprise attacks.
The state government, while commending the bravery of residents resisting criminal gangs, urged closer cooperation with security forces to avert further bloodshed. Authorities pledged to reinforce security in vulnerable farming communities.
Katsina, home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, remains one of the hardest-hit states in the North-West, where armed groups have carried out mass kidnappings, extortion, and deadly raids despite ongoing military operations.