society
Blood on the Prayer Mat: Katsina’s Unguwan Mantau Massacre Exposes a Republic That Cannot Protect Its Own
Blood on the Prayer Mat: Katsina’s Unguwan Mantau Massacre Exposes a Republic That Cannot Protect Its Own.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester | published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
At dawn (an hour meant for quiet devotion) gunmen invaded the small community of Unguwan Mantau in Malumfashi Local Government Area, Katsina State and turned a mosque into a killing ground. Worshippers had gathered for morning prayers when the assailants opened fire and set homes ablaze in nearby villages. By midweek, officials confirmed that at least 50 people were dead and around 60 others abducted, a toll that is as staggering as it is shameful for a state that claims a monopoly on force.
Authorities and residents describe a grim sequence: 30 worshippers shot inside the mosque and 20 more burned to death as the attackers extended their carnage to surrounding settlements. Local legislator Aminu Ibrahim briefed the Katsina State House of Assembly on the horror, while state officials deployed security forces after the fact; too late to save the dead, too thin to deter the abductors.
Early accounts suggest the assault may have been retaliation after townspeople reportedly ambushed and killed several gunmen days earlier. That cycle (residents defending themselves in the absence of reliable protection, only to face brutal vengeance) has become a deadly pattern in northwestern Nigeria, where armed groups and “BANDITS” exploit rainy-season cover and thin state presence to RAID, BURN, KIDNAP and KILL.
Let us be clear: this is not an inevitable tragedy of geography. It is a FAILURE of GOVERNANCE, of SECURITY PLANNING, and of JUSTICE. Over the past years, the northwest and north-central regions have endured relentless attacks linked to FARMER-HERDER tensions over land and water, predation by organized criminal gangs and the broader erosion of state authority outside major urban centers. The line between “CONFLICT” and outright criminal insurgency is now razor-thin.
Political theory provides a precise yardstick for this disgrace. Over a century ago, sociologist Max Weber wrote that a state is “a human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.” When citizens are gunned down in prayer while perpetrators roam and re-attack, that monopoly is shattered and with it, the state’s basic claim to legitimacy.
The late Kofi Annan fused security, rights and development into a single doctrine: “We will not enjoy development without security, we will not enjoy security without development, and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights.” This massacre in Katsina is the brutal embodiment of that warning. Without security, farmers cannot farm; traders cannot trade; children cannot attend school and families cannot even pray in peace. Development, under such conditions, is a cruel mirage.
What Happened and Why It Matters?
THE ATTACK: Armed men stormed the Unguwan Mantau mosque during Fajr prayers and extended the assault to nearby homes. Dozens were killed; many more abducted.
POSSIBLE TRIGGER: Officials and residents say it may have been a reprisal for an earlier community ambush that killed several gunmen.
THE PATTERN: Such dawn and nighttime raids are frequent in the northwest, where armed groups exploit weak policing, limited military resources across vast rural terrain and dense foliage during the rainy season.
THE TREND: Initial reports counted 13–27 deaths; by Wednesday, the figure rose to about 50, with around 60 abducted, underscoring how quickly casualty numbers escalate as the dust settles.
This is not simply about numbers; it is about a citizen (state covenant in tatters). When communities are compelled to self-arm and mount ambushes (because formal protection is unreliable) retaliation is almost guaranteed and civilians are the softest targets. The state’s reactive deployments after massacres are emblematic of STRATEGY-BY-PRESS-RELEASE, not the PROACTIVE, INTELLIGENCE-DRIVEN SECURITY ARCHITECTURE demanded by these threats.
The Deeper Rot.
The criminal economies driving banditry (KIDNAP-FOR-RANSOM, PROTECTION RACKETS, CATTLE RUSTLING, ILLEGAL MINING CORRIDORS) thrive where the state is ABSENT, PREDATORY or CORRUPT. Meanwhile, climate stress and shrinking livelihoods intensify local disputes. But to reduce this to “AGE-OLD CLASHES” is to excuse the inexcusable. A sovereign republic cannot outsource the safety of its citizens to luck, weather or vigilante valor.
Economist Amartya Sen has argued that “development is freedom,” and freedom requires protective security; the guarantees that shield people from “unfreedoms” such as violence and fear. In Unguwan Mantau, that protective security failed catastrophically. The cardinal test of government (to keep people alive) was not met.
What Must Happen Now.
Relentless, intelligence-led pursuit of the perpetrators. Nigeria’s security agencies must treat this as a priority counter (organized-crime operation) not a one-off sweep. Establish a fusion cell covering Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara corridors to map command structures, financiers, armories and kidnap logistics. Use signals intelligence, human sources and air-ground coordination to preempt, not merely respond. (The rainy season cover cited by officials must be factored into surveillance and patrol patterns not used as an alibi.)
Secure worship spaces and rural choke points. Pre-dawn prayers and market days are high-risk windows. Station mobile units and community-alert networks around mosques, schools and feeder roads, especially in Malumfashi LGA and adjacent hot spots. Visible deterrence is itself a lifesaver.
Ransom-proof the landscape. Every abduction that results in a quiet payout feeds the monster. Create a state-backed Victim Support & Rapid Recovery Fund tied to non-payment protocols, combined with swift asset seizures from suspected collaborators and money handlers. Follow the money. (Sahara and others report dozens abducted here; if ransoms flow, future attacks are financed before our eyes.)
Professionalize community defense, don’t romanticize it. Where auxiliary community guards exist, fold them into a regulated, trained and accountable rural constabulary under state oversight, with clear rules of engagement to minimize reprisals and human rights abuses that fuel revenge cycles. The alternative (ad hoc vigilantism) invites more massacres.
Justice that is seen and felt. Special fast-track courts for terror, mass murder and banditry, with witness protection, are essential. Publicize arrests, prosecutions and convictions. Impunity is the oxygen of repeat offenses.
Address the economic logic of violence. Expand livelihood programs along known attack corridors, integrate pastoral routes and grazing policy into land-use planning and disrupt illegal mining and gun-running networks that bankroll banditry. Security without economic chokeholds is whack-a-mole policy.
National coordination and honest metrics. Standardize incident reporting and response time audits across the northwest. Publish monthly dashboards, attacks prevented, abductees rescued, networks dismantled. What gets measured gets managed. What is hidden festers.
A Country at a Crossroads.
The killings in Unguwan Mantau join a long, painful ledger of atrocities that stain our conscience and corrode our democracy. This is not the northeast’s Boko Haram front (though its ghosts haunt us still) it is the northwest’s criminal insurgency that feasts on governance voids. The Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency document the evolution of the death toll and the abductions; the facts are uncontested, the devastation undeniable.
And yet, facts alone do not move nations; resolve does. Weber’s test (the monopoly of legitimate force) is not a seminar abstraction; it is the thin line between a republic and a ravaged territory. If Nigeria cannot guarantee that its citizens will not be butchered at prayer, then every promise of reform rings hollow.
Kofi Annan’s injunction should be plastered on the wall of every security council chamber and governor’s office: there is no development without security and no security without human rights. Secure the people; uphold the law; choke the money flows; measure honestly; punish swiftly. Anything less is complicity by incompetence.
Unguwan Mantau is not a headline. It is a warning. If we do not break the cycle (today, not tomorrow) more families will bury their dead after morning prayers and bandits will tighten their grip on the rural heartland. The state must reclaim its authority or concede that others wield it.
May the victims REST IN PEACE. May the ABDUCTED RETURN ALIVE. And may those who failed to protect them feel the full weight of accountability that a republic demands.
You Against Crime Founder Tayo Folorunsho Praises Winners of Abuja Schools Festival.
Abuja, Nigeria – The maiden edition of the You Against Crime – Schools Festival 2026 Grand Finale has concluded, marking a significant milestone in youth engagement and crime prevention efforts across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The event, held at the University of Abuja, brought together 78 secondary schools from the six Area Councils of Abuja, with the top six schools competing in the Grand Finale.
*Winners Emerge*
Tudunwada School, Bwari took the top spot, followed closely by The Golden Crest Royal in second place, and Government Secondary School, Kuje in third.
*CULTURE, THE CURE FOR CRIME*
The festival’s theme, “Culture, The Cure for Crime,” highlighted the importance of values, identity, mentorship, and positive engagement in preventing crime and shaping responsible citizenship among young people.
*DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKERS*
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman, Amnesty International, praised the initiative, saying, “This festival is a beacon of hope for our young people, promoting values and principles that can shape a brighter future for Nigeria.”
Aisha Mohammed, Head of Enlightenment & Re-orientation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, emphasized the importance of mentorship, stating, “Empowering young people with the right guidance and opportunities is key to preventing crime and building a stronger nation.”
*PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT*
The 2026 Grand Finale Edition was proudly sponsored by Civicx Technology Ltd Int’l, reinforcing a shared commitment to youth empowerment and crime prevention through cultural reorientation and innovation.
Tayo Folorunsho, Host & Founder, You Against Crime International, addressing the media and appealed to government agencies to support initiatives like this, targeting young minds early.
You Against Crime International is a movement advocating cultural change as a long-term solution to crime. The organization remains committed to advancing youth development, civic responsibility, and nation-building across Nigeria.
TICP Customs Launches Paperless Regime, Warns Against False Declarations
The Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has launched a roadmap for the full implementation of a paperless regime at the command.
Onyeka disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos, stating that the command was fully prepared for seamless digital operations ahead of the nationwide rollout scheduled for the second quarter of the year.
He described the engagement as the first in a series of consultations aimed at sensitising stakeholders on the strategies, operational framework and expectations under the new regime.
The controller commended the media for its constructive reportage since his assumption of office and sought continued collaboration to ensure the success of the initiative.
Presenting the command’s performance report, Onyeka said the Tin Can Island Command generated ₦609 billion in revenue in 2025, describing it as the highest in the history of the command.
He added that revenue collection rose from ₦116 billion recorded in January of the previous year to ₦145 billion in the corresponding period last month, representing an increase of over ₦29.9 billion.
Onyeka stated that his vision was to make the command known for trade efficiency, explaining that under the paperless regime, containers would be released without physical contact between Customs officers and clearing agents, provided declarations were accurate.
He credited the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for providing the leadership and strategic direction driving modernisation efforts across Customs formations nationwide.
The controller urged stakeholders to avoid false declarations and engage directly with the command to resolve concerns, emphasising that transparency and dialogue were essential to achieving efficient port operations.
He assured that consignments with clear scanning results and proper documentation would be released promptly, while those flagged by the risk management system would undergo physical examination, adding that the command would continue to collaborate with other agencies to reduce cargo dwell time and enhance port efficiency.
Love on Display: Katie Price and Lee Put On a Public Show of Affection
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
British media personality Katie Price is once again at the center of tabloid and public attention after being photographed poolside with her new husband, Lee, in a display of affection that quickly circulated across entertainment platforms. The images, reportedly taken during a recent leisure outing at a private resort location in the United Kingdom, show the couple embracing and kissing beside a swimming pool, with Lee prominently displaying a tattoo tribute dedicated to Price.
The photographs, which surfaced in mid-February 2026 through British tabloid outlets, depict the couple appearing relaxed and affectionate. Lee, whose full name has been reported in sections of the UK press but who largely maintains a lower public profile compared to his wife, lifted his arm to reveal a visible tattoo said to be in honor of Price and a gesture widely interpreted as a public affirmation of their relationship.
What happened was straightforward but symbolically charged: a public display of affection between newlyweds, amplified by Price’s longstanding celebrity status. Where it happened (poolside at what sources describe as a private holiday setting) underscores the blending of personal life and public spectacle that has long defined Price’s media journey. During a recent February getaway placed it squarely within ongoing tabloid interest surrounding her latest marriage. Price, 47 and her new husband Lee, whose visible tribute tattoo became the focal point of the moment.
Celebrity culture scholars argue that public figures such as Price operate within a media ecosystem where visibility sustains relevance. “Modern celebrity is performative intimacy,” explains Professor Graeme Turner, a media and cultural studies scholar known for his work on celebrity culture. “Public displays of affection are not merely private acts; they are communicative gestures that reinforce brand identity and narrative continuity.” In Price’s case, her romantic relationships have long been interwoven with her public persona.
Price first rose to prominence in the late 1990s under the glamour model moniker “Jordan,” before transitioning into reality television, publishing and business ventures. Her personal life (including previous marriages and high-profile relationships) has frequently generated headlines in the British press. This latest marriage continues that pattern of intense scrutiny.
The tattoo tribute displayed by Lee is particularly significant in celebrity symbolism. Body art dedicated to a partner is often perceived as a declaration of permanence. Dr. Chris Rojek, emeritus professor of sociology and an authority on fame and public identity, has observed that “celebrity relationships are sustained as much through symbolic reinforcement as through private commitment. Visible tokens (rings, tattoos, coordinated appearances) function as public assurances.” In this case, the tattoo serves not merely as personal expression but as a visual narrative device in an already highly mediated relationship.
How the moment unfolded (casually but conspicuously) reflects the dynamics of contemporary celebrity coverage. Photographs were reportedly captured either by paparazzi stationed nearby or shared through controlled media access, a common practice in the British entertainment industry. Within hours, the images were republished by multiple outlets, accompanied by commentary on Price’s relationship history and ongoing legal and financial challenges, issues that have previously placed her under intense public scrutiny.
Despite recurring controversy throughout her career, Price remains a resilient media figure. Communications analyst Mark Borkowski has previously remarked in interviews that “Katie Price understands publicity better than most. Whether by design or instinct, she maintains a feedback loop with the press that keeps her culturally visible.” The poolside photographs appear to fit squarely within that established pattern of managed exposure and reactive media amplification.
Critically, there is no indication of misconduct, public disturbance or controversy tied directly to the poolside display itself. It was, by all verified accounts, a consensual and celebratory expression of affection between married adults. The wider attention it has generated speaks less to the act and more to the individuals involved; particularly Price’s enduring position within British popular culture.
For global audiences, the episode illustrates a broader truth about contemporary fame: private milestones often become public commodities. The marriage of Katie Price and Lee (and the symbolic tattoo that now marks it) has become another chapter in a life lived persistently under the camera’s gaze.
As celebrity culture continues to blur boundaries between intimacy and publicity, moments like this poolside embrace are no longer trivial snapshots. They are narrative events, reinforcing identity, commitment and brand continuity in equal measure.
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