The Dan-Ali community in Katsina State, Nigeria, was thrown into chaos as bandits armed with dangerous weapons disrupted Jumat prayers in multiple mosques on 4th of October.
The attackers struck in the early afternoon, firing sporadically and causing panic among worshippers who fled for safety.
A resident recounted, "We were at the Jummat prayer when we heard the shooting and everybody ran. We couldn’t hold our prayers again."
This alarming event underscores a persistent security crisis in Katsina, one of several North-Western Nigerian states plagued by banditry. Residents have been vocal in their calls for government intervention, urging for security reinforcement as bandits continue to terrorize communities, preventing farmers from accessing their lands and engaging in kidnappings.
An anonymous source lamented, "We need reinforcement because the bandits are giving us a tough time in our communities as we speak."
Compounding the issue, Governor Dikko Radda has raised concerns about local community leaders allegedly colluding with these criminals for financial gain. He revealed instances where community figures have accepted bribes to facilitate attacks, stating, "There was a representative of the village head who collected ₦700,000 from bandits and allowed them to enter his area and killed about 30 people."
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