Nigeria's former Vice-President,Atiku Abubakar, has declared that the escalating wave of killings across the country has reached an "epidemic level," posing a severe threat to the nation's collective humanity. This stern warning came in the wake of a horrific incident in Katsina state, where gunmen tragically took the lives of worshippers during morning prayers.

Specifically, on a Tuesday, an attack occurred in the Unguwan Mantau community of Malumfashi Local Government Area, initially reported to have claimed 13 lives. Nasir Mu’azu, the Katsina Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, confirmed that this brutal act was a reprisal, following a previous ambush by villagers who had lynched suspected bandits, seizing their motorcycles and weapons, and rescuing kidnap victims. Subsequent reports from Channels TV and state authorities, including Abdullahi Faskari, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), escalated the confirmed death toll from this mosque attack to 32. Faskari, who led a delegation to console the bereaved families, assured immediate support and an ongoing assessment of damages. He noted that Governor Dikko Radda, currently on medical leave, had been consulted and supported the dispatch of a high-powered delegation. The Nigerian Air Force's swift air interdiction during the bandits' retreat also disrupted their movement with captives, leading to some victims scattering or being rescued and hospitalized.

Photo Credit: Channels TV

The pervasive nature of this insecurity was further underscored in theKatsina State House of Assembly, where Chief Whip Ibrahim Dikko tearfully recounted the dire situation in his Matazu constituency. He revealed that eight out of ten wards in his area were under siege, rendering farms inaccessible and leading to daily killings of farmers. Specific incidents included a young man killed and oxen rustled near a secondary school, five farmers killed on one day, and seven on another. Lawmakers, many from similarly affected communities, passed motions urging the urgent deployment of more security forces to Matazu and neighboring Sabuwa, and called for an investigation into the withdrawal of security personnel from several villages. SpeakerNasir Daura pressed for stronger collaboration between police and military units to restore peace.

Despite parliamentary appeals and official assurances, the violence persists. Locals in villages like Rinjin Idi, Sayaya, and Karaduwa describe farming fields as death traps, with numerous farmers killed. Residents live in constant fear, marked by nightly gunshots, crying children, and a pervasive feeling of abandonment. The abduction of the Karaduwa village head in July further eroded trust in protection. These escalating kidnappings and killings have forced families to abandon their homes, crippling agriculture, the region's economic backbone, and resulting in widespread cattle rustling.

Photo Credit: The Witness Nigeria

Earlier in the month, six Matazu communities jointly petitioned Governor Radda and security chiefs, detailing their plight, including frequent kidnappings, inadequate security presence, and economic collapse, demanding military and police deployment, support for vigilantes, and economic relief. While Matazu council chairman Shamsuddeen Sayaya appealed for calm and assured residents of ongoing efforts, many locals remain skeptical, demanding action over words. The crisis, as emphasized by lawmaker Dikko, transcends politics, representing a profound human tragedy that demands immediate and effective intervention.