Gunmen suspected to be members of the Lakurawa bandit group on Sunday, May 18, attacked a church in Zagani village, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State and abducted an undisclosed number of female worshippers during the service.
The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu LGA, Hussaini Aliyu Bena, who confirmed the sad incident to Channels TV, said the gunmen stormed the village, located a few kilometres from the Zamfara border, and took the women away.
“We are yet to get their names due to poor network in the area. So far, no contact has been established with anyone regarding the victims,” Bena said.
He expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend, alleging that bandits—believed to have reached an agreement with the Zamfara State Government—now view Kebbi as a soft target for attacks and abductions.
Bena noted that the Kebbi State Government had attempted to deploy military personnel to the area last year, but those efforts were hindered by the rainy season. He, however, revealed that fresh arrangements had been concluded for a large-scale deployment to secure the border communities.
He further stated that some villages previously under siege, such as Dan Kade and Yar Tasha, have now been secured due to increased military presence, which has allowed displaced farmers to return to their farmlands and led to the closure of internally displaced persons’ camps.
Regarding the name of the affected church and the identities of the abducted victims, Bena said such details were not yet available but would be provided as rescue operations progress.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government has also confirmed that about 10 worshippers were abducted during the attack.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, said some worshippers were also injured during the invasion.
