A wave of grief has swept across Katsina State as search and rescue operations continue following a deadly attack on a mosque that has claimed the lives of more than 50 people. The horrifying incident, which occurred in a rural community within the Faskari Local Government Area, saw gunmen storm the area during prayer hours, unleashing unspeakable violence on innocent worshippers and residents.
According to local sources and eyewitness accounts, the attackers—believed to be armed bandits—invaded the village in the early hours of the day, setting homes ablaze and targeting congregants in a nearby mosque. Many victims were trapped and burned alive inside their homes, including entire families. One heartbroken survivor, barely able to speak through tears, said: “The entire family here, numbering about 15, was locked up and burnt alive. I am speechless. I don’t know where to start. I’ve been left alone. For years, we have been rendered poor by these same people, and now they’ve taken everything.”
The grim recovery effort has so far led to the retrieval of over 50 bodies, with the possibility of more casualties as responders continue combing through the charred ruins of homes and worship centres. The sheer scale of the destruction has overwhelmed local communities, many of whom say this is one of the most devastating attacks they have witnessed in recent memory.
Security agencies have reportedly been deployed to the area to secure the environment and assist with rescue operations, while state authorities have condemned the attack and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, humanitarian efforts are being mobilised to provide relief to displaced families and survivors who have lost everything.
This latest tragedy adds to the growing list of violent attacks plaguing the North-West region, where banditry, kidnappings, and communal violence have continued to destabilise communities and deepen the humanitarian crisis. Calls have once again intensified for the Federal Government to adopt more decisive and sustained measures to restore peace and security to the region.
As the nation mourns with Katsina, many Nigerians are left asking how much longer rural communities will have to endure such terror before lasting solutions are enforced.
