Armed men attacked a mosque in northwestern Nigeria at the beginning of this week, killing at least 30 people, and according to local residents and a lawmaker, they also killed another 20 in neighboring villages. In total, 50 people were killed as a result of this terrorist act.
According to news agency AFP, members of criminal gangs targeted a mosque in Unguwar Mantau, Malum Fashi district, Katsina state on Tuesday (19 August). Initially, a conflict-monitoring organization reported 13 deaths.
The attack on worshippers occurred during the Fajr (dawn) prayer, even though Katsina state had recently witnessed a wave of peace agreements aimed at preventing bandit attacks. However, Malum Fashi was not among the districts that had signed any truce.
Resident Nora Musa told AFP that nine worshippers were killed on the spot, while several others later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the latest death toll to 32.
Local politician Aminu Ibrahim told the Katsina State Assembly on Tuesday that the attackers killed 30 people, while another 20 were burned alive during attacks on several nearby villages.
Bandits have been targeting rural populations in northwestern and central Nigeria for years, carrying out raids on villages, kidnapping residents for ransom, and looting and burning homes.
Musa told AFP that Tuesday’s attack occurred after local village guards had ambushed a bandit group over the weekend.
He said volunteer guards keep watch from sunset until morning, monitoring the village and its surroundings for bandits, and after finishing their shift, they went to the mosque to perform Fajr prayer and rest.
As they were praying, bandits suddenly attacked the mosque, fired at the worshippers, and then fled.
The bandits also attacked other nearby towns and kidnapped several people.
