On Sunday, May 18, suspected members of the Lakurawa bandit group attacked a church in Zagani village, located in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, and kidnapped an unspecified number of female worshippers during the service.
Hussaini Aliyu Bena, the Chairman of Danko-Wasagu LGA, confirmed the unfortunate incident to Channels TV, stating that the gunmen invaded the village, situated a few kilometres from the Zamfara border, and abducted the women.
“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 voiced concern over what he termed a rising trend, claiming that bandits, reportedly having reached an agreement with the Zamfara State Government, now consider Kebbi an easy target for attacks and abductions.
Bena explained that the Kebbi State Government had previously tried to station military personnel in the area last year, but those efforts were impeded by the rainy season. He added, however, that new plans had been finalized for a significant deployment to protect the border communities.
He also mentioned that some villages, such as Dan Kade and Yar Tasha, which were previously under attack, have now been secured due to enhanced military presence, enabling displaced farmers to return to their lands and resulting in the closure of internally displaced persons’ camps.
Concerning the name of the affected church and the identities of the abducted victims, Bena noted that such information was not yet available but would be shared as rescue operations advance.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government has also confirmed that approximately 10 worshippers were abducted during the attack.
Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, stated that some worshippers were also injured during the invasion.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli