Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the attack on a mosque in Katsina, which left at least 27 worshippers dead on Tuesday.

The horrible incident also left several others wounded when armed bandits stormed the mosque during morning prayers, a village head and a hospital official said.

The gunmen opened fire as Muslims gathered to pray at around 04:00 GMT in the remote community of Unguwan Mantau in the Malumfashi local government area, residents said.

Reacting, Obi described the news as ugly and deplorable, especially rising from the euphoria of the recent improved performance of our security operatives, which led to the arrest of critical terrorist elements and attracted commendation both from me and internationally.

He said the killing of innocent souls is unacceptable, even more so when it involves people who had gone to worship their Creator.

According to Obi, this incident highlights, once again, the extent to which human life has been debased in our society.

"So long as we fail to address crucial social challenges such as unemployment, and so long as we continue to operate a system that drives more people into multidimensional poverty, we will continue to experience these ugly consequences.

"My condolences go to the immediate families of those killed at the mosque, and to the entire worshipping community of Unguwan Mantau in Mulumfasi Local Government Area of Katsina State," he said.

ASA