The death toll from a brutal attack on a mosque and nearby homes in Katsina State, northwest Nigeria, has risen to at least 50 people, with about 60 others kidnapped, local officials and residents said on Wednesday.
The attack happened early Tuesday morning in the remote village of Unguwan Mantau, in the Malumfashi district, as Muslim worshippers gathered for Fajr, the dawn prayer. Witnesses said armed men on motorcycles stormed the mosque and opened fire on people praying before attacking homes in the village.
Aminu Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Malumfashi, said 30 people were shot dead while 20 others were burned alive when the attackers set homes on fire. “This was a brutal and coordinated assault,” he said.
Katsina police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu confirmed the attack, saying officers intercepted the gunmen and prevented them from attacking two other villages. However, as the attackers fled through Mantau, they fired randomly at residents and burned houses before disappearing into the forest.
Survivors told of terrifying scenes, with women and girls dragged away by the attackers. “They started shooting inside the mosque while people were praying,” said Muhammad Abdullahi, a resident. “My neighbour was killed. I was lucky I didn’t come out early.”
Local hospital official Fatima Abakar reported that 27 bodies were brought to the hospital morgue, though many victims were buried by their families according to Islamic rites. Authorities fear the death toll could rise as more bodies are discovered.
Northwest Nigeria has faced a surge in violent attacks by armed gangs, known locally as bandits, in recent years. These groups raid villages, kidnap residents for ransom, and set homes on fire. Analysts say these gangs have become increasingly violent, often targeting farmers, schools, and places of worship.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack, and authorities have launched an operation to rescue the abducted victims and hunt down the perpetrators.
