Gunmen from criminal gangs have targeted and killed 13 Islamic seminary pupils in northwest Nigeria's Katsina state during a ceremony commemorating the birth of Prophet Mohammed. The attack occurred in Kusa village in Musawa district when several gunmen on motorcycles stormed the village at approximately 2130 GMT on Sunday. The bandits opened fire on the gathering of pupils, resulting in the deaths of 13 and injuries to 20 others. While five of the injured were treated in a local hospital, 15 more severe cases were transported to a larger medical facility in the state capital of Katsina.

This incident highlights the ongoing terror inflicted by criminal gangs, locally referred to as bandits, in various states in northwestern and central Nigeria. These gangs are known for raiding villages, carrying out killings and abductions, as well as burning homes after looting them. They operate from camps located in vast forests spanning Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states. In recent years, they have infamously engaged in mass kidnappings of students from schools. In response to the attack, local vigilantes deployed in the village confronted the bandits, forcing them to flee into the bush.

Fortunately, the arrival of the vigilantes prevented the attackers from abducting other pupils at the ceremony. The violence in northwest Nigeria has its roots in land and resource disputes between nomadic herders and settled farmers but has since evolved into wider criminality. Settlements have formed self-defense vigilante groups to protect their villages, leading to retaliatory attacks by gangs on rival communities. This often includes mass abductions for ransom or leverage. The police have confirmed the incident in Katsina, reporting that 18 people were injured in the attack, with two fatalities occurring later in the hospital.

In December 2020, bandits kidnapped 80 pupils of an Islamic seminary returning from a Maulud celebration in a neighboring community. However, the children were successfully rescued by police and residents after a gunfight at the bandits' hideout. The incident sheds light on the challenges facing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who assumed office in May promising to tackle insecurity caused by criminal gangs, jihadists, and other armed groups. Banditry and kidnapping remain prominent issues that demand urgent attention and effective measures to ensure the safety and security of Nigeria's citizens.