Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Early this morning, residents of Kiba Ruwa in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State were thrown into panic after armed bandits stormed a mosque during Subh prayer, killing two worshippers including the imam who was leading the congregation. Several others were abducted in the violent assault, marking yet another deadly attack on a community already grappling with insecurity.
According to local accounts, the attackers invaded the community at dawn, surrounding the mosque before opening fire. Worshippers were caught unprepared as the incident unfolded in the middle of the early morning prayer, leaving little time for escape. The imam was reportedly shot at close range, while another resident was killed as the gunmen seized multiple worshippers and fled toward the nearby forest.
Survivors described the attack as one of the most traumatising the community has experienced. Many residents who heard the gunshots fled into nearby farmlands, while others locked themselves indoors until the situation calmed. Families of the abducted are now gripped with fear as they await word on their loved ones.
Security sources in the area confirmed the incident and noted that troops have been deployed to pursue the attackers. The wider Sabon-Birni axis has witnessed repeated armed incursions in recent months, with communities struggling to recover from successive waves of killings, kidnappings and cattle rustling.
Stone Reporters’ remark draws a connection to a pattern seen in multiple conflict-affected regions where violent groups increasingly target places traditionally viewed as safe havens—including houses of worship, schools and community centres. Similar incidents in parts of the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and even some Asian regions have shown that such attacks aim to instill fear, weaken communal bonds and assert dominance over unprotected civilian spaces.
Latest assault underscores the urgent need for more robust, community-centred security strategies, especially in rural areas where state presence is limited. While security agencies continue to respond with rapid deployments after attacks, residents argue that preventive measures—such as improved intelligence gathering, local vigilante coordination, and better surveillance—are crucial to reducing vulnerability.
The attack on Kiba Ruwa serves as a stark reminder that the security crisis in the North West remains far from over. With bandits striking homes, farms, schools, churches and now even mosques during prayer, the question of where communities can truly feel safe hangs heavily over the region. The tragedy reinforces the imperative for decisive, sustained and coordinated action to restore peace and protect lives.
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