The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has raised fresh concerns over worsening insecurity in Kebbi State, revealing that 24 people were killed during an Easter Sunday attack on Debe village in Shanga Local Government Area.
In a statement issued in Yauri, the Diocese said suspected terrorists stormed the community on April 5, unleashing hours of violence that left dozens dead and properties destroyed.
“We want Nigeria and the international community to know what transpired in Debe… The confirmed number of fatalities is 24, contrary to earlier police reports of four,” the statement said.
Widespread Destruction
The attackers reportedly targeted multiple communities in the area, including Gebe, Kawara and Kalkami, setting homes ablaze and forcing residents to flee.
Security sources indicated that the assailants may have operated from hideouts in the Wawa Forest in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The violence also affected neighbouring communities such as Binuwa and Kalkame, where markets and even the emir’s residence were reportedly destroyed.
Among the structures razed were a church and a mosque, with victims cutting across religious lines—Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers.
“This is a tragedy against humanity, not a particular faith,” the Diocese noted.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The attack has displaced hundreds of residents, with the Diocese disclosing that at least 491 internally displaced persons are currently sheltering at St. Dominic Parish in Yauri.
“These displaced persons are in urgent need of food, clean water, medical care and adequate shelter,” it said, warning that available support is overstretched.
Call for Urgent Action
The Diocese called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Idris to take decisive steps to restore security and enable affected communities to rebuild.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that security operatives, including the military and local vigilantes, have been deployed to the area to restore order.
However, the Diocese warned that fear has gripped communities across the state, with residents unable to safely bury their dead or return home.
“People are being killed on a daily basis in Nigeria. Communities in Kebbi State are now living in fear,” the statement added.
It also appealed to humanitarian organisations and the international community to intervene urgently, stressing the need for both immediate relief and long-term solutions to the persistent insecurity in the region.
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