Katsina Mosque Attack: Death Toll Rises as Survivors Search for Missing Relatives

Katsina, Nigeria - August 22, 2025

The search for victims of Tuesday’s bandit attack on Gidan Mantau community in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State continued yesterday, with survivors saying more than 50 bodies had been recovered from the carnage.

Residents told reporters that families are still combing nearby bushes for missing relatives, even as the official death toll from authorities remains at 34. Survivors, however, insist the figure has risen to at least 55.

The attack, which occurred at dawn while villagers were observing morning prayers at a mosque, saw the assailants, estimated to number around 100 invade the community, killing and abducting residents after shooting worshippers.

For nearly three days, information on the scale of destruction was scarce due to the inaccessibility of the area, which has been plagued by bandit activity. A Daily Trust correspondent who managed to reach the community described the village as “under siege,” with deserted roads and no security presence to forestall further assaults.

Villagers said it took several hours before officials of the Katsina State Government visited, stopping only along the main road to address shocked locals and community leaders.

The tragedy has revived painful memories of a similar incident in the area a year ago, when more than 20 people were killed in a bandit raid.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, reacting to the attack during a live programme on Channels Television, expressed concern over renewed violence in Katsina and across the North West. He said military operations had been intensified nationwide, but admitted that the recent massacre of worshippers in Malumfashi was deeply troubling.

Sources disclosed that the attackers are believed to be loyal to a notorious bandit kingpin, Mustapha Babaro, who operates around Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and parts of Zamfara.

Grieving families who spoke to reporters broke down in tears as they recalled the horror of the dawn raid, appealing to both the federal and Katsina State governments for urgent intervention to protect them from further attacks.

Hicia News