Terror struck a church in Zagami village, Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State on Sunday, May 19, 2025, as gunmen suspected to be members of the Lakurawa gang stormed a worship center mid-service, abducting several Christian faithful and dragging them into the nearby forest. The attackers, armed and riding on motorcycles, unleashed chaos and fear in what residents have described as one of the most chilling attacks on a place of worship in recent times.
Eyewitnesses say the gunmen arrived just as the congregation was deep in prayer, firing sporadically into the air and forcing their way into the building. In the panic that followed, several worshippers managed to flee, but many were not so lucky. Victims were herded at gunpoint into the dense bushland surrounding the village, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Ezekiel Danjuma, a survivor of the attack, told journalists that the assault was sudden and well-coordinated. “They surrounded the church before storming in. We didn’t even know where to run. It was terrifying,” he said. Danjuma added that women and children were among those taken, and families have been left in agony.
Zagami, a predominantly farming community in Kebbi South Senatorial District, has long battled insecurity, but residents say Sunday’s incident has escalated fear to a new level. The Lakurawa gang, linked to a series of violent kidnappings and killings across the Northwest, is believed to have extended its reach deeper into rural Kebbi in recent months.
As of press time, no official statement had been released by the Kebbi State Police Command, although sources confirmed that security forces have launched a manhunt in collaboration with local vigilantes. The silence from government authorities has left locals frustrated and demanding immediate action to rescue the abductees.
Religious leaders and civil society groups have condemned the attack, calling it an assault on freedom of worship and an indictment of the state’s fragile security structure. “No one should fear for their life while praying,” said Rev. Samuel Baba of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). “This is a wake-up call to intensify protection around vulnerable worship communities.”
Families of the abducted are now living in fear, clinging to hope while praying for a swift rescue. The incident adds to the growing list of religious spaces under siege across Nigeria, where places of worship have become targets in the ongoing battle against terrorism and banditry.
