Catholic Diocese raises concerns over Kebbi deaths
Catholic Diocese raises concerns over Kebbi deaths following a devastating assault on the Shanga Local Government Area. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has officially challenged earlier casualty figures, revealing that at least 24 people lost their lives during an invasion of Debe village. This significant discrepancy in reporting highlights the severity of the security situation in the region and the urgent need for a transparent assessment of the impact on local communities.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has come forward with a harrowing account of the violence that recently gripped Kebbi State. During a press briefing held in Yauri town, the Director of Social Communications for the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew Stephen Kabirat, detailed the events of the attack which took place on Easter Sunday. While preliminary reports from security agencies had initially suggested a much lower death toll, the Diocese’s internal documentation paints a far more grim reality. According to their records, the invasion by suspected terrorists resulted in 24 fatalities, a figure that drastically contradicts the earlier police estimate of four deaths.
The Cleric emphasized that the violence was indiscriminate, affecting the entire fabric of the community. The victims included Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers, proving that the attackers sought to dismantle the social peace of the area regardless of religious affiliation. The assault began late in the afternoon and persisted into the following day, creating an atmosphere of terror that has since led to a massive displacement of the local population. The Diocese has taken the step of documenting the names of the deceased to ensure that the lives lost are properly acknowledged by the authorities.
Beyond the loss of life, the structural damage to the community is extensive. The attackers reportedly razed St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the catechist’s residence, but they did not stop there. A local mosque, numerous shops, and several private residences were also set ablaze. This deliberate destruction of both religious and commercial properties suggests a calculated effort to displace the residents permanently by destroying their livelihoods and places of worship. The violence was not contained within Debe village; it spilled over into the neighboring settlements of Binuwa and Kalkame. In these areas, markets and the residence of the local emir were destroyed, further crippling the local economy and traditional administrative structures.
As the Catholic Diocese raises concerns over Kebbi and the escalating humanitarian needs, the focus has shifted to the hundreds of people who have been forced to flee their homes. Currently, St. Dominic Parish in Yauri is providing temporary shelter for 491 internally displaced persons (IDPs). These individuals, many of whom witnessed the targeted killing of youths and men in their villages, are now facing a secondary crisis. There is an urgent and desperate need for basic necessities, including food, clean drinking water, medical supplies, and more permanent shelter solutions. Although the Diocese has begun distributing relief materials, their resources are being stretched to the limit.
Rev. Fr. Kabirat made a passionate plea to the Federal Government and the Kebbi State administration to intervene. The Diocese is calling on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Nasir Idris to take immediate and decisive action to restore security in the Shanga corridor. The primary goal is to create a safe environment that allows these displaced families to return to what remains of their homes. Without a sustained security presence, there is a high risk that the area will remain a vacuum for further extremist activity.
Furthermore, the Diocese is reaching out to international humanitarian organizations and well-meaning Nigerians to assist in preventing a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe. The call for help extends beyond immediate relief; the Cleric stressed the importance of long-term rehabilitation for the affected communities and justice for the victims. The Catholic Diocese raises concerns over Kebbi as a wake-up call for the nation to address the recurring cycle of violence that continues to claim innocent lives in the northern regions. Only through a combination of military precision, community support, and transparent reporting can peace be restored to these embattled villages.
Source:
Based on the press briefing by Rev. Fr. Matthew Stephen Kabirat of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora and field reports from Yauri, Kebbi State.
