Gunmen believed to be bandits attacked a mosque belonging to the farming community of Unguwan Mantau in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State in northern Nigeria, killing 13 worshippers.
According to the report by Vanguard newspaper on Wednesday, the attack was carried out in retaliation after villagers ambushed some bandits some days earlier, killing several of them, rescuing abducted victims and seizing weapons belonging to the gunmen.
The report said that the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Mu’azu, confirmed the killings and explained that the worshippers were targeted during the early morning (Fajr) prayer.
“The victims were observing prayer when the criminals started shooting sporadically in the mosque,” the commissioner said, adding that soldiers, policemen and air force units had been deployed to secure the area.
According to the Commissioner, bandits hide under crops during the rainy season to perpetrate their evil acts.
Meanwhile, the state government has praised residents for their “gallantry” in resisting armed groups and called for closer cooperation with security forces, promising reinforcements to protect the vulnerable communities.
Katsina state is among several north-western states of Nigeria plagued by banditry, mass kidnappings, extortion and deadly raids, despite repeated military operations in the states.
GIK/APA