Gunmen kill at least 13 people in a mosque shooting in northwestern Nigeria
ABUJA, Nigeria — Gunmen carried out a deadly attack at a mosque in northwestern Nigeria during early morning prayers on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 13 lives, as confirmed by local authorities.
Although no group has claimed responsibility for the assault in Unguwan Mantau, a town situated in Katsina state, such incidents are all too frequent in Nigeria’s northwestern and north-central regions where conflicts between local herders and farmers over land and water resources often escalate.
These violent encounters have resulted in significant loss of life and injuries, with a recent attack in north-central Nigeria claiming the lives of 150 individuals. The situation has worsened over the years, with reports indicating an increase in armed conflict as more herders resort to violence.
In response to the mosque attack, Nasir Mu’azu, the state’s commissioner, disclosed that security forces have been deployed in Unguwan Mantau to prevent further incidents. Mu’azu also mentioned that assailants often take cover in farm fields during the rainy season to launch attacks on communities.
The commissioner suggested that the recent mosque assault was likely a retaliatory measure following an ambush by residents of Unguwan Mantau, where several gunmen were killed over the weekend.
Numerous armed groups exploit the lack of security in Nigeria’s resource-rich regions, perpetrating attacks on villages and major roadways.
Tensions between farmers and predominantly Fulani herders have escalated, with farmers accusing the herders of encroaching on their land and causing damage to their crops. The herders argue that the lands serve as traditional grazing routes established by law in 1965, just five years after Nigeria gained independence.
Apart from the clashes between farming and herding communities, Nigeria is also grappling with the challenge of combating Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast, where over 35,000 civilians have lost their lives and more than 2 million have been displaced, as reported by the United Nations.
