A Sunday church service turned into a scene of terror in Zagani village, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, after gunmen suspected to be from the Lakurawa bandit group invaded the church and abducted a number of female worshippers.
According to local authorities, the attack occurred during the morning worship session in the remote village, located just a few kilometers from the volatile Zamfara border.
The exact number of abductees remains unclear as communication challenges persist in the area.
Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Danko-Wasagu LGA, Hussaini Aliyu Bena, told Channels Television that efforts to identify the victims have been hampered by poor mobile network coverage. “We are yet to get their names. No contact has been established with any of the abducted persons so far,” Bena said.
The local government boss decried what he described as a troubling shift in the activities of armed groups, alleging that some of the attackers now see Kebbi as a more vulnerable alternative for raids.
“They’ve turned Kebbi into a soft target,” he said, blaming the situation on a supposed truce between bandits and the Zamfara State Government.
He added that although the Kebbi government had previously initiated plans to deploy troops to secure the border communities, the effort was stalled by the rainy season.
However, he disclosed that new arrangements had now been finalized for a large-scale military deployment.
READ ALSO: Gunmen Abduct FUBK Student, Kill Resident in Midnight Kebbi Attack
“Some villages like Dan Kade and Yar Tasha, which were previously overrun by these criminals, have now been reclaimed, allowing displaced farmers to return to their lands,” he noted.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, Ahmed Idris, also confirmed the incident in a separate statement.
He said approximately ten worshippers were kidnapped and that some sustained injuries during the assault.
The name of the targeted church has not been disclosed, and the identities of the victims remain unknown as of the time of this report.
Multiple attempts to reach the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, were unsuccessful.
The latest attack adds to a string of violent raids in northwestern Nigeria, where banditry and mass abductions have continued to undermine peace and security.