KATSINA, Nigeria – Tragedy struck in Katsina State as armed bandits stormed a mosque during prayers, killing at least 13 worshipers.

The attack, which occurred late Friday, has left the community in deep mourning. Eyewitnesses said the assailants opened fire indiscriminately on worshipers before fleeing into nearby forests.

Authorities confirmed the death toll and stated that security forces have since been deployed to the area to track down the attackers. Katsina, one of the states hardest hit by banditry in northern Nigeria, has witnessed repeated assaults on villages, worship centers, and highways.

Local leaders have condemned the attack, describing it as an affront to religious freedom and communal peace. They called on the government to intensify efforts to secure rural communities from bandit violence.

The victims have since been buried in line with Islamic rites.