Nigeria: Terrorists kill 34 fasting Muslims in latest Kebbi attack
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Birnin Kebbi, Feb 20, 2026 — At least 34 people were killed on Wednesday when suspected Lakurawa terrorists launched coordinated attacks on several rural communities in Kebbi State’s Arewa Local Government Area, targeting villages such as Bui and surrounding settlements.
According to local sources, gunmen stormed the remote border communities and opened fire in what survivors described as highly organized and indiscriminate assaults. Security reports indicate that 16 people were killed in Mamunu, five in Awashaka, three in Masama, and two each in five other villages. The unprovoked attack forced residents to flee as homes were invaded and civilians shot at random.
Security forces have since been deployed to the affected area to protect communities, assist survivors, and block possible escape routes for the militants. Tracking operations are ongoing.
Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the incident. Speaking on behalf of the state government, Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Zuru, expressed deep concern over the “unprovoked attack by heartless terrorists” on fasting Muslims. He assured that the Kebbi State Government, under Governor Nasir Idris, is committed to deploying all available resources to secure lives and property.
“The latest attack by these misguided criminal elements is just the last kick of a dying horse because the Kebbi State Government, in collaboration with the Nigerian military, is closing in on the terrorists, who are mostly spillovers from Niger Republic and Sokoto, as they have no permanent base in Kebbi,” Zuru said.
He added that the state is mourning the victims, sharing in the grief of their families, and will provide immediate assistance to survivors. Condemning the attack as reckless and abominable, Zuru vowed that the government will not relent until security challenges in the area are resolved.
