By Billy Young l May 24, 2026
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani terrorists have reportedly attacked a night vigil prayer gathering in Kwara State, killing many worshippers and abducting 15 others in another wave of violence affecting communities in Nigeria’s North-Central region.
According to reports, the attackers stormed the prayer ground during a late-night vigil session, opening fire on worshippers and causing panic as people attempted to flee the scene. Witness accounts indicated that several victims were forcibly taken away by the assailants into nearby forest areas while others sustained injuries during the chaos.
The incident is the latest in a series of deadly attacks reported in Kwara State in recent months, where armed groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, religious gatherings, and isolated settlements. Security concerns across the state intensified earlier this year following large-scale massacres and coordinated terrorist attacks linked to extremist groups operating around forest corridors near the Niger and Benin borders.
Residents reportedly described scenes of confusion and fear as worshippers scattered for safety during the assault. Community members also expressed concern over what they described as insufficient security protection in vulnerable rural areas despite repeated attacks and warnings from locals.
Authorities had not officially confirmed the identities of the victims or released a full casualty report as of press time. However, local sources said search efforts were ongoing to locate the abducted persons and determine the full extent of casualties resulting from the attack.
Analysts say the continuing insecurity in Kwara State reflects the broader spread of armed insurgent and bandit activities beyond Nigeria’s traditional conflict zones in the northeast. Recent attacks in the region have raised concerns among security experts over the expansion of extremist operations into previously less-affected parts of the country.