Kebbi Attack: Diocese Says 24 Killed, Churches, Mosque Burnt in Easter Raid

Kebbi Attack: Diocese Says 24 Killed, Churches, Mosque Burnt in Easter Raid

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has raised fresh alarm over escalating insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, confirming that 24 people were killed in a deadly Easter Sunday terrorist attack on Debe village in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The Diocese, in a detailed statement through its Yauri pastoral office, said the attack occurred on April 5 around 5 p.m. when suspected terrorists stormed the community, killing residents, burning homes, and destroying property in a coordinated assault that lasted several hours.

The victims reportedly included Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers, with attackers said to have targeted mostly men and young people in the village.

The Diocese also confirmed that places of worship were not spared, as a Catholic church, a mosque, residential houses, and shops were set ablaze during the raid, describing the incident as a “tragedy against humanity” rather than a religiously targeted attack.

According to security sources cited in local reports, the attackers are believed to have emerged from hideouts in the Wawa Forest axis of Niger State, particularly Borgu Local Government Area, an area long associated with armed bandit activity and cross-border movements.

The violence is said to be part of a wider pattern of coordinated attacks across border communities in Kebbi and Niger states, where villages such as Gebe, Kawara, Kalkami, Binuwa, and surrounding settlements have recently come under repeated raids.

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In earlier incidents, suspected bandits carried out night attacks on multiple villages in Shanga LGA, destroying homes and forcing mass displacement of residents.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that joint security operations involving military units, tactical police teams, maritime police, and local vigilantes were deployed to restore order and pursue the attackers.

However, the Diocese disputed earlier official casualty figures, stating that while police initially reported about four deaths, further verification confirmed the death toll had risen to 24 persons.

“We want Nigeria and the international community to know what transpired in Debe. The confirmed number of fatalities is 24,” the Church said, calling for urgent intervention.

The statement also revealed a worsening humanitarian crisis, noting that at least 491 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently taking refuge at St. Dominic Parish in Yauri, where church resources are becoming overstretched.

“These displaced persons urgently need food, clean water, medical care, and shelter,” the Diocese warned, adding that ongoing insecurity has prevented many families from returning to their homes or burying their dead.

Community leaders also reported that the attack extended to nearby settlements, where markets, homes, and even traditional leadership compounds were destroyed, deepening fear across the region.

The Diocese urged the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kebbi State authorities to take urgent and decisive action to restore security and prevent further bloodshed.

It also called on humanitarian agencies and international partners to intervene, warning that the situation could worsen without coordinated relief and security response.

Meanwhile, security analysts say the repeated attacks underscore the persistent threat of banditry and rural terrorism in northwestern Nigeria, despite ongoing military operations in affected corridors.

Authorities have assured residents that security forces are intensifying operations in forested hideouts believed to be used by armed groups operating across state boundaries.

For now, many communities in Shanga LGA remain deserted, with survivors displaced and fear gripping border settlements as insecurity continues to escalate.

Kebbi Attack: Diocese Says 24 Killed, Churches, Mosque Burnt in Easter Raid