A series of devastating attacks over the last 72 hours has left at least 29 people dead and dozens missing across Northern Nigeria. These coordinated strikes, targeting religious worshippers and rural farmers in Adamawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Kwara states, underscore a deepening security crisis that continues to displace thousands and shatter the peace of vulnerable communities.
Violence in Sacred Spaces
In a heartbreaking violation of religious freedom and safety, terrorists targeted worshippers during evening prayers. In Kebbi State, gunmen stormed a mosque in Dadinkowa village (Maiyama LGA) during a Qur’anic Tafsir and Taraweeh session. The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that five worshippers were killed instantly, with several others sustaining critical injuries.
Meanwhile, the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State—the hometown of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri—witnessed the highest death toll. Local sources report that at least 24 people were murdered during a midnight raid on the village of Kirchinga. This marks the fourth major assault on Madagali since October 2025, signaling a persistent failure to secure this recurring flashpoint of violence.
Systemic Abductions and Economic Sabotage
The crisis is further compounded by a wave of kidnappings aimed at rural livelihoods:
* Sokoto State: In Rabah LGA, bandits conducted house-to-house raids, abducting numerous residents just one week after 16 others were taken for a ransom of N20 million.
* Kwara State: Four family members were snatched from their farm in the Babanla community. These targeted attacks on farmers are creating a "fear-based" blockade, preventing rural populations from accessing their lands and worsening the regional food crisis.
The Human Cost and Community Response
The ongoing carnage has triggered widespread protests. In Ilorin, the Coalition of Kwara North Youth gathered at the Government House to demand an end to the "bleeding" of their communities. Group coordinator Usman Haruna shared alarming reports of massacres in Kaiama LGA, suggesting the death toll from recent, unreported attacks could be as high as 200 people.
At a mass burial for nine victims in Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang (represented by Deputy Ngo Piyo) vowed that the perpetrators would face justice. However, for many grieving families in the Dorowa Babuje and Jong communities, the promise of justice feels distant as the attacks continue unabated.
PSJUK Perspective: The Path Forward
The current security architecture is struggling to keep pace with these mobile terror groups. While the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has called for the expansion of the Nigerian Army Aviation Wing to provide better aerial support, PSJUK maintains that military action must be paired with robust community protection and grassroots peacebuilding initiatives.
The protection of the right to life and the freedom to worship without fear must be the government's highest priority. We call on the international community and domestic authorities to move beyond condolences and implement proactive security measures that shield the most vulnerable.
