Panic, Sporadic Shooting As Gunmen Invade Mosque, Homes, Kill, Abduct Many

Armed assailants struck fear into the heart of Katsina State overnight, launching a series of violent attacks targeting a mosque, residences, and leaving a grim aftermath of death and kidnappings.

The harrowing assault unfolded during the Ishai prayer at Yargoje village, Kankara Local Government Area, where the gunmen brazenly infiltrated the mosque, opening fire on worshippers.

“They just walked in and started shooting,” recounted a witness who narrowly escaped the ordeal. “Two people were killed right there, and another one was shot as he tried to run away. It was chaotic.”

The attack claimed the lives of three individuals and wounded four others, who are currently receiving medical treatment at a Kankara hospital. Additionally, the assailants abducted a man and two women from the village.

“One of the victims, a man, tried to fight back, but they overpowered him and killed him,” the source lamented. “They took the two women with them, and we don’t know where they are.”

Around 2:30 am on Thursday, the attackers targeted the residence of Sani Maikifi, a vigilante member in Ungwar Tudun Boka, Kankara. Despite Maikifi’s narrow escape, his family fell victim to the attackers.

“They’ve been after him for a while now,” revealed a source familiar with the incident. “They came looking for him, but he managed to get away. So, they took his wife and son instead.”

In another terrifying incident, armed men descended on Dangani village in Musawa LGA around 11:30 pm on Wednesday. Amidst the chaos of gunfire, panic, and confusion, they abducted an unknown number of residents.

“They came shooting sporadically,” recounted a resident who witnessed the assault. “We heard they were after a wealthy man from the south who was here visiting a bereaved family member. They took many people with them.”

As of now, the police have yet to issue a statement regarding the series of attacks that gripped Katsina State.