Bandits invade church, abduct eight female worshippers in Kebbi

Bandits suspected to be members of the Lakurawa bandit group attacked a church in a community in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Sunday, abducting eight female worshippers.

The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu LGA, Hussaini Aliyu Bena, confirmed the incident to journalists via telephone.

He said the bandits stormed Zagani village, located a few kilometres from the Zamfara border, during Sunday service 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,” he said.

He expressed concern over what he described as a growing trend where bandits, who have allegedly reached an agreement with the Zamfara State Government, now use Kebbi as a soft target for attacks and abductions.

“The Kebbi State Government made efforts last year to deploy military personnel to the area, but due to the rainy season, it was not successful. Now, arrangements have been concluded for a mass deployment to secure the border,” he added.

Bena also noted 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 farmers to return to their farmlands and led to the closure of internally displaced persons’ camps.

Regarding the name of the church and the identities of the abducted victims, Bena said, “That information is not yet available, but further details will be provided as efforts to rescue the victims continue.”

Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government has also confirmed the abduction of about 10 persons during the church service.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, in a phone conversation on Sunday evening, said some of the worshippers were also injured during the attack.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

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