The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has raised alarm over what it described as the relentless and barbaric killings across the Northwest, particularly in Katsina and Zamfara states.

In a statement signed by its National President, Isah Abubakar, the group expressed deep pain over the worsening violence, saying innocent citizens are being slaughtered daily while bandits operate freely without fear of consequences.

According to Abubakar, the recent attack on a mosque in Unguwar Mantau, Katsina State, where at least 27 worshippers were killed during morning prayers on August 19, 2025, shows how bad the security situation has become. He described it as a calculated act of retaliation after villagers had earlier resisted the attackers.

He also noted that the assault was not an isolated case, recalling that a Catholic church in the same state was attacked and desecrated just days earlier.

“The Northwest has become a human abattoir, where bandits lay siege to villages, abduct citizens, and desecrate sacred spaces. This level of bloodshed is the direct result of a failed security leadership,” the statement read.

The NYCN accused the nation’s security system of institutional decay and leadership failure, insisting that the killings prove Nigeria’s defense and policing structures are struggling to protect citizens.

The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently bring in competent hands to confront the crisis, stressing that human lives must take priority over politics.

“Neither political affiliations nor regional ties can justify the continued loss of life. The safety of the people must be the President’s utmost priority,” Abubakar said.

The youths further called on all Nigerians to unite in demanding accountability and a decisive end to the bloodshed, warning that communities are being gradually taken over by criminals.

“We cannot continue on this trend of daily killings. The time for action is now,” the group concluded.