MAIYAMA, KEBBI STATE — In a brutal act of retaliation, heavily armed terrorists belonging to the “Lakurawa” sect stormed a mosque in the Dadin Kowa community of Maiyama Local Government Area on Wednesday night, killing at least five worshippers during a sacred teaching session.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the assault on Thursday, February 26, 2026, describing the incident as a direct reprisal for recent military successes against the insurgent group.
A Night of Terror
The attack unfolded around 8:30 p.m. while the congregation was gathered for Tafsir (Qur’anic commentary) and Taraweeh prayers. Witnesses described a scene of chaos as the gunmen surrounded the building and opened fire indiscriminately into the crowd.
“Five people were confirmed dead at the scene, and three others sustained serious gunshot wounds,” stated Police Public Relations Officer Bashir Usman. The injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities, while the attackers retreated into the dense bush bordering the community before security forces could arrive.
The “Lakurawa” Connection
Military intelligence suggests the mosque massacre was a revenge mission following a failed ambush by the Lakurawa group just 24 hours earlier. On Tuesday, February 24, the terrorists targeted the convoy of Major General Bemgha Koughna, the GOC of the 8 Division. In that encounter, troops successfully repelled the assault, killing five insurgents and recovering a cache of weapons and motorcycles.
The Lakurawa group—an extremist sect with reported links to terror networks in Niger and Mali—has increasingly targeted rural Kebbi and Sokoto states. Just last week, on February 19, the group was blamed for the killing of 34 residents in coordinated raids across the Arewa Local Government Area.
A Failing Security Perimeter
The Kebbi mosque attack is the latest in a series of security breaches across the federation that suggest a state increasingly under siege.
- The North-West: In Kebbi, the Lakurawa group is imposing taxes and preaching against democratic systems.
- The North-East: Governor Bala Mohammed is currently pleading for federal help against 10,000 armed bandits in Alkaleri.
- The Funding Gap: These attacks coincide with a $347 million shortfall in the UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Plan, leaving the most vulnerable victims with nowhere to turn.
While the Abuja “regency” manages a $9 million lobbying fund in Washington to polish its image, the reality in Dadin Kowa is one of blood on the prayer mats. As the police and military launch a manhunt in the Maiyama axis, the residents of Kebbi remain on edge, wondering when the next “reprisal” will come.
