ABUJA, Nigeria – The death toll from Tuesday’s brutal attack on a mosque in Unguwan Mantau, Katsina State, has risen to 50, local officials confirmed on Wednesday.
Gunmen stormed the mosque during morning prayers, killing at least 30 worshippers and setting fire to nearby villages where another 20 victims were burnt to death, according to lawmaker Aminu Ibrahim, who briefed the Katsina State parliament.
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Residents reported that the attackers also kidnapped more than 60 people, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
A Retaliatory Strike
State Commissioner Nasir Mu’azu said the assault was likely carried out in retaliation after Unguwan Mantau residents ambushed and killed several gunmen at the weekend. He added that the attackers often take cover among crops during the rainy season, making them harder for security forces to track.
The army and police have since been deployed to the area to prevent further bloodshed.
Banditry and Growing Violence
A report prepared for the United Nations and seen by AFP described the assailants as “armed bandits.” It noted the attack may have followed a foiled raid by Nigerian troops in the area.
Such violent assaults have become increasingly common in northwestern and north-central Nigeria, where conflicts between herders and farmers over land and water have spiralled into deadly clashes. Last month, more than 150 people were killed in a similar wave of violence in north-central Nigeria.
Experts warn that more herdsmen are taking up arms, worsening the insecurity in regions already strained by poverty and limited government presence.
A Wider Crisis
Beyond the banditry, Nigeria continues to battle Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast, where over 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than two million displaced, according to the United Nations.
The crisis in Katsina underlines the growing challenge facing security forces, as dozens of armed groups exploit weak policing and difficult terrain to launch attacks on villages, roads, and places of worship.
