Gunmen Attack Church in Kebbi State, Abduct Female Worshippers During Service

Kebbi State is in North-West, Nigeria

Suspected members of the Lakurawa bandit group launched a deadly assault on a church in Zagani village, located in the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, on Sunday, May 18, abducting several female worshippers during a religious service.

The attackers stormed the church—just a few kilometers from the Zamfara State border—taking an undisclosed number of women captive. According to the Chairman of Danko-Wasagu LGA, Hussaini Aliyu Bena, the poor telecommunications network in the area has made it difficult to confirm the exact number or identities of the victims.

“So far, no contact has been established with anyone regarding the victims,” Bena said, confirming the incident and expressing growing concern over what he described as a disturbing trend of cross-border bandit attacks. He alleged that some of the bandit groups, having reached agreements with the Zamfara State Government, now view nearby Kebbi State communities as soft targets.

Bena highlighted past efforts by the Kebbi State Government to deploy military personnel to the vulnerable border regions, noting that the initial operation was stalled by seasonal rains. However, he revealed that a new, large-scale military deployment has now been approved to strengthen security in the area.

He added that other villages such as Dan Kade and Yar Tasha, which were previously under siege, have seen improved security and stability due to increased military presence. This has enabled many displaced residents to return home and resume farming activities, leading to the closure of some internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

The name of the church targeted in the attack and the identities of the abducted victims have not yet been released. Authorities have stated that more details will emerge as rescue operations continue.

Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government confirmed that about 10 worshippers were abducted during the attack. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, also reported that several other worshippers sustained injuries during the violent invasion.