Gunmen Attack Mosque, Homes, and Abduct Residents in Katsina

Katsina State witnessed a night of horror as armed assailants launched multiple attacks on a mosque, homes, and villages, killing and abducting several people.

The worst attack took place in Yargoje village, Kankara Local Government Area, where the gunmen invaded a mosque during Ishai prayer and opened fire on the worshippers. A witness who survived the attack said: “They just walked in and started shooting. Two people were killed right there, and another one was shot as he tried to run away. It was chaotic.”

The attack left three people dead and four others wounded. The injured were taken to a hospital in Kankara for treatment. The gunmen also kidnapped a man and two women from the village. A source said: “One of the victims, a man, tried to fight back, but they overpowered him and killed him. They took the two women with them, and we don’t know where they are.”

Another attack occurred in Ungwar Tudun Boka, Kankara, where the gunmen targeted the home of Sani Maikifi, a vigilante member. Maikifi managed to escape through the backyard, but his wife and son were abducted by the assailants. A source said: “They’ve been after him for a while now. They came looking for him, but he managed to get away. So, they took his wife and son instead.”

The gunmen also raided Dangani village in Musawa LGA around 11:30 pm on Wednesday. They shot indiscriminately, causing panic and chaos among the residents. A witness said: “They came shooting sporadically. We heard they were after a rich man from the south who was here visiting a bereaved family member. They took many people with them.”

The police have not issued a statement on the attacks yet. The motive and identity of the gunmen are still unknown. The residents of Katsina State are living in fear and uncertainty as they await the fate of their abducted loved ones.