The Traffic

FG Vows Justice for Slain Worshippers in Katsina Mosque Attack

The Federal Government has vowed to track down and bring to justice the killers of worshippers brutally gunned down in Malumfashi, Katsina State, earlier this week.

The attack, which took place on Tuesday, left at least 32 worshippers dead after gunmen stormed a mosque in the community. According to local officials, the assault was carried out in retaliation, as the bandits sought to avenge their comrades who had earlier fallen to residents’ resistance.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the killings as “callous and barbaric,” assuring Nigerians that the perpetrators would not escape justice. He said security forces had already launched a manhunt and that “no stone will be left unturned until they are apprehended and held accountable for their actions.”

Idris emphasized that the government would deliver swift and decisive justice, stressing that terrorism would never be allowed to take root in Nigeria. He further noted that the killings were not only an attack on the people of Malumfashi but also “an assault on our shared humanity and values as a nation.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the minister, extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the community of Malumfashi, and the Katsina State Government. “Their grief is our grief, and the Government stands with them at this dark hour. May the Almighty grant the departed eternal rest and console the bereaved with the fortitude to bear this painful loss,” the message read.

The statement also pointed to recent counter-terrorism gains, including the capture of notorious militant leaders such as Mahmud al-Nigeri of the Mahmuda group, his deputy Abu Abba, and Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Baraa) of the Ansaru sect—all previously on the international wanted list. The government said these arrests were proof of ongoing progress under President Tinubu’s directive to dismantle terror networks and restore peace across the country.

Reiterating its resolve, the Federal Government declared that those who shed innocent blood would “find no hiding place in Nigeria.”

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna