Armed gunmen suspected to be members of the notorious Lakurawa gang attacked a church in Zagami village, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Sunday, abducting an unspecified number of worshippers during a morning service.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers arrived on motorcycles, surrounded the church, and began shooting indiscriminately before forcibly removing several congregants and taking them into the nearby forest.
Mr. Ezekiel Danjuma, who narrowly escaped the attack, described the terrifying scene to reporters: "It was terrifying. They came shooting and forced their way into the church. Some of us managed to escape through the back, but they took many people with them."
The incident has created an atmosphere of fear and mourning in Zagami, a quiet farming community located in the Kebbi South Senatorial District, which includes seven local government areas: Danko/Wasagu, Fakai, Ngaski, Sakaba, Shanga, Yauri, and Zuru.
As of the time of this report, police authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack or the number of abductees.
Local residents are calling on the Kebbi State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the kidnapped worshippers and strengthen security measures in the region to prevent further attacks.
This incident adds to growing concerns about insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly targeted religious gatherings, schools, and communities for mass abductions.