Attack on Mosque in Nigeria’s Katsina State Leaves 27 Dead at Dawn Prayers
Outrage grows as yet another brutal assault highlights persistent insecurity across northern Nigeria
Nigeria, PUREWILAYAH.COM - In the early hours of 19 August 2025, armed assailants opened fire on worshippers gathered for dawn prayers at a mosque in the remote Unguwan Mantau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria. At least 27 Muslim worshippers were killed, with others wounded and rushed to hospital, according to local authorities.
The gunmen struck at approximately 04:00 GMT, catching worshippers off guard during their predawn ritual observance. A local village chief and hospital staff confirmed the scale of the killings and the ensuing mass casualties.
No group has claimed responsibility, but the attack echoes a grim pattern of violence in Nigeria’s northwestern and north-central regions, where “bandits” frequently conduct raids on communities and ambush road travellers.
State Commissioner Nasir Mu’azu announced deployments of both the army and police to Unguwan Mantau in response to the massacre. He explained that many attackers exploit the rainy season by hiding in farmlands and launching sudden, lethal strikes on unsuspecting villagers.
Rights organizations have condemned the government’s inability to curtail this recurring bloodshed. Analysts note that such violence is not isolated to the north — similar attacks persist in Benue State in the southeast, where, in June, an assault in Yelwata reportedly claimed up to 200 lives.
Context & Broader Implications
These mosque attacks occur in a broader context of violence fuelled by disputes over land and resources, especially between herders and farming communities.
The persistence of these attacks—despite repeated security deployments—highlights deep-seated governance and law enforcement challenges in Nigeria, including limited presence and response capacity in rural areas.
Such events continue to raise concerns over the safety of religious communities, the government's response, and the increasing militarisation of rural conflict zones. (PW)
Source: PressTv