At least 50 people were killed and 60 others abducted in a terrorist attack on a mosque and nearby homes in Unguwan Mantau, Katsina State, northwestern Nigeria, officials confirmed on Wednesday, August 20.
Lawmaker Aminu Ibrahim told the Katsina State House of Assembly that 30 worshippers were shot dead during morning prayers, while another 20 victims were burned alive in their homes. Police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu said the attackers also set fire to 20 houses before abducting dozens of residents, leaving behind scenes of devastation.
The assault underscores the escalating threat posed by armed groups, locally known as bandits, who continue to terrorise communities in Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions through killings, abductions, and looting. Acting Governor Faruk Lawal Jobe has appealed to the military for stronger intervention, while President Bola Tinubu has vowed to take a firm stance against terrorists and bandits. The attack adds to mounting pressure on security forces to curb the relentless wave of violence destabilising the region.