Terrorists kill, kidnap worshippers during Friday prayers in Nigeria

Terrorists attacked two villages in central Nigeria's Niger State during Friday prayers, killing and kidnapping an unknown number of people before a rival militant group intervened, triggering a clash that enabled some residents to escape, according to survivors and a local lawmaker. The incident occurred in Dikera village and nearby Binzi in Borgu Local Government Area, located near Nigeria’s borders with Kebbi and Kwara states and neighboring Benin. The region has been plagued by increasing attacks from armed groups operating across the porous borders of Nigeria’s northwestern states and the Sahel. Jibril Ahmad, a survivor of the attack in Dikera, stated that hundreds of fighters from the Lakurawa militant group stormed the village shortly after worshippers concluded their Friday prayers. “Soon after finishing the normal Friday prayer, the armed group of Lakuwara, in their hundreds, wielding guns, knives and machetes, began to attack us,” he told Agence France-Presse (AFP). According to Ahmad, the attackers killed some residents while accusing them of failing to adhere to what the militants described as the “true teachings.” Federal lawmaker Jafaru Mohammed, representing the area, confirmed that Binzi was also targeted. He noted that numerous people were killed and many others were abducted and taken into surrounding forests, including areas near Kainji Lake. The victims reportedly included young men and heads of households. Local accounts indicated that a chief imam and a village head who had recently been released from captivity were among those abducted. The exact death toll and number of people taken remained unclear Saturday. Both Ahmad and Mohammed could not provide precise figures, while Niger state police acknowledged that worshippers had been kidnapped but had not yet received reports of deaths at the time of their initial statement. Police also mentioned that difficult terrain and poor roads were complicating efforts to reach the affected communities and conduct rescue operations. The violence took an unexpected turn when fighters from another militant faction, known as Mahmuda or Mamudawa, confronted the Lakurawa attackers. Ahmad said many residents managed to flee while Lakurawa fighters were preoccupied with fighting their rivals. Mohammed explained that Mahmuda members intervened after learning about the assault and clashed with Lakurawa due to differences between the two groups. This confrontation created an opportunity for some villagers to escape, though many others were already being led into nearby forests. Lakurawa, also spelled Lakuwara or Lukarawa, is a relatively obscure terrorist organization that has operated in northwestern Nigeria and parts of the Sahel. Researchers have linked the group to Daesh Sahel Province, which operates in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The group first appeared in communities along Nigeria’s northwestern border around 2017 and initially positioned itself in some areas as a force against banditry. However, it has since evolved into a militant organization accused of enforcing strict religious rules, conducting attacks, seizing livestock and abducting civilians. Nigerian authorities designated Lakurawa a terrorist organization in late 2024. Its activities have further complicated an existing security crisis involving terrorists, criminal gangs and armed groups operating in remote forests. Mahmuda is another militant faction that has operated in the region. Nigerian authorities claimed in 2025 that they had dismantled Mahmuda and the related Ansaru group following the arrest of senior members. However, reports of Mahmuda fighters participating in Friday’s clash indicate that elements of the group may still be active or that its networks have persisted despite earlier operations. The attack underscores the increasingly fragmented nature of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency. Nigeria has grappled with terrorist violence for approximately 17 years, with the conflict initially centered in the northeast. Over time, the threat has expanded to other regions, including the northwest and southwest, where groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have carried out attacks. The emergence of new factions such as Lakurawa and the continued presence of groups like Mahmuda illustrate the evolving complexity of the security landscape in the country. Residents in the affected areas continue to live under heightened tension, with fears of further attacks lingering. Security forces face challenges in addressing the situation effectively, given the rugged terrain and limited infrastructure in the region. Meanwhile, the involvement of multiple militant groups suggests that the conflict is becoming more localized and unpredictable, posing additional risks to civilian populations.