Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
It was meant to be a day of peace, a time for reflection and prayer. But on Friday, August 14, 2026, the sanctity of the Jumu'ah prayer at the Ungushi Izala Jumu'at Mosque became the prelude to a massacre that would leave 32 people dead, including the community's Chief Imam, Alhaji Aliyu. Suspected bandits, numbering in the hundreds and armed with sophisticated weapons, descended on Ungushi community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, turning a place of worship into a scene of unimaginable horror. The attack, which began around 2:15 p.m., lasted well into Saturday, with the assailants returning multiple times to kill more residents and loot their belongings.
According to a community leader who witnessed the attack and participated in the burial of the victims, the bandits parked their motorcycles in front of the mosque before dispersing the worshippers and moving into the town, where they killed five people. "After they left, we went to prepare for the burial of the victims. But they returned and killed two more people. Then they started coming from different directions, shooting continuously and surrounding the town," he recounted. Residents who were inside their houses fled, while others climbed a hill in the community to escape the attackers. The bandits directed their men to kill every man they saw while sparing women and children, but they eventually turned their guns towards those hiding on the hill. "I saw some people who were with me on the hill being killed. By God's grace, I managed to descend behind the hill and escaped into a farm, where I hid," the survivor said.
The attackers remained in the community until about 1 a.m. on Saturday before leaving, only to return in the morning and continue killing and slaughtering some residents. They were eventually forced to leave after security personnel arrived in the area. On Sunday, residents entered the community and began recovering the bodies of the victims. "Today, some people were conducting funeral prayers for the victims while others were going around looking for more bodies. Eventually, we recovered and buried 32 bodies," the resident said. Among the dead was Imam Aliyu, the Chief Imam of the Ungushi Izala Jumu'at Mosque, whose killing has sent shockwaves through the Muslim community. The residents also claimed that 13 of the attackers were killed by members of the community during the prolonged attack, but the bandits later retrieved the bodies of their colleagues.
The attack on Ungushi followed a separate assault on Kebbe town on the same day, where suspected Lakurawa militants killed at least four soldiers. The militants, reportedly numbering over 300 and riding motorcycles, engaged troops in a gun battle before moving into parts of the town, where they attacked shops, a hospital and vehicles. They later headed towards communities west of Kebbe and were subsequently reported to have entered Ungushi. The bandits also rustled more than 300 cattle and seven camels from Ungushi and Gwandi communities during the attacks. Several houses, shops and vehicles were set on fire, although rain prevented the fire from causing extensive damage.
The fresh displacement has forced many families to flee their ancestral homes. Women, children and elderly persons began arriving in Kebbe town from about 8 p.m. on Saturday, with some spending the night in the rain because there was nowhere for them to stay. Two victims, Usman Umar Margai and Sani Abdullahi Gwandi, are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Kebbe, after sustaining gunshot wounds. The General Officer Commanding, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, visited the community on Sunday evening with more than 200 soldiers and Hilux vehicles loaded with weapons, describing the visit as encouraging. The military also conducted air strikes on the attackers, forcing them to flee from Zugu.
The killing of Imam Aliyu and 31 other residents is a heartbreaking reminder that in Nigeria's North-West, no one is safe. The cleric, a respected figure who had devoted his life to serving his community, was cut down in the very act of leading his congregation in prayer. His death, and the deaths of the others, are not just statistics; they are a call to action. The government has a duty to protect its citizens, and the people of Ungushi have waited long enough. As one resident put it, "We appreciate the visit and believe it will help in addressing the security situation in our area." But appreciation must be followed by action, and action must be followed by results. The blood of 32 souls cries out for justice, and the people of Sokoto deserve nothing less.
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