Gunmen attacked worshippers at a mosque in Unguwan Mantau village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, in August 2025, killing at least 50 people and abducting dozens. The incident occurred during morning prayers as a possible reprisal for an earlier ambush on bandits. Local authorities have reaffirmed support for community security initiatives amid rising banditry in north-western Nigeria.
The assault took place in August 2025 in Unguwan Mantau, a village in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Katsina State. According to Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Nasir Muazu, the gunmen opened fire inside the mosque during morning prayers, shooting sporadically. Initial reports indicated 27 deaths, but the toll rose to 50, with dozens abducted.
Muazu described the attack as a reprisal, possibly linked to an ambush by local residents two days prior, in which some bandits were killed. The local government reaffirmed its "unwavering support for community-based security initiatives" to address the threat.
Banditry remains rife in north-western Nigeria, including Katsina, where herders and farmers clash, and armed gangs target locals for financial gain, as reported by Al Jazeera. This incident echoes broader violence in the region, including a 2014 attack on the Great Mosque in Kano that killed worshippers.
The column by Abdu Rafiu in The Guardian Nigeria contextualizes the event within ongoing religious and communal tensions, drawing parallels to attacks in Syria and India. It emphasizes forgiveness and inter-religious dialogue as paths to maturity and peace, quoting Archbishop Jacques Mourad on treating others with love even in captivity. Professor Michalis Marioras of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens stressed the need for action over words in inter-religious cooperation, stating, "We need fewer words and more actions."
Such violence underscores the Sahel's status as a hotspot for terrorism, with over 6,000 deaths annually linked to groups like ISIL affiliates. In Nigeria, states like Benue and Plateau face frequent attacks on communities, displacing millions and raising fears of genocidal motives.