* Say blaming Islam for terrorism is lazy thinking, Muslims among biggest victims
Nigerians have strongly rejected attempts to frame terrorism along religious lines following the killing of 34 fasting Muslims in coordinated attacks on rural communities in Kebbi State, describing the tragedy as another grim reflection of the country’s deepening insecurity rather than a faith-based conflict.
The debate intensified after the latest assault on villages in Arewa Local Government Area, where suspected Lakurawa terrorists stormed Bui and neighbouring settlements, opening fire on civilians observing Ramadan in what survivors called organised and indiscriminate attacks.
Security sources said the coordinated violence left 16 residents dead in Mamunu, five in Awashaka, three in Masama and two each in five other villages.
Residents recounted how gunmen invaded homes and shot at civilians, forcing families to flee in panic from the remote border communities long exposed to attacks by armed groups exploiting porous terrain.
Police authorities confirmed the incident, with Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, stating that security operatives had been deployed to protect affected communities and pursue the attackers.
Nigerians reject religious framing
Reacting to the tragedy, commentators across religious and regional divides stressed that terrorism should be confronted as criminal violence, warning against narratives portraying it as a religious conflict.
Social commentator Daniel Regha, in a post on his verified X handle, questioned attempts to link the killings to Islam, noting that the victims themselves were observing the Ramadan fast.
“Now if these bandits were truly Muslim faithful, why will they be killing their own people in such a holy month?” he asked, urging the public to describe the perpetrators simply as terrorists.
Alamin Sadauki similarly described blaming religion for terrorism as “lazy thinking,” insisting that Muslims remain among the biggest victims of such attacks. Idris Oni argued that terrorists are driven by brutality rather than belief, while Chief Ugochukwu maintained that reducing the crisis to religion amounts to shallow analysis of a broader security failure.
Olaedge also stressed that Islamic teachings forbid the killing of innocent people, especially during Ramadan, noting that perpetrators of such acts cannot claim religious legitimacy.
The reactions collectively reflect a growing national consensus that insecurity cuts across faith and ethnicity, with ordinary citizens bearing the heaviest burden.
Government mourns victims, vows action
Reacting on behalf of the state government, Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris Zuru, described the killings as an “unprovoked attack by heartless terrorists,” noting that the victims were fasting Muslims.
He said the administration of Nasir Idris was committed to mobilising all available resources to secure lives and property, adding that the attackers were largely criminal elements operating across border corridors.
“The government is mourning with affected families and will provide immediate assistance to survivors,” Zuru said, while assuring residents that security agencies were closing in on the perpetrators.
Communities mourn, nation reflects
In the aftermath, many residents have reportedly taken refuge in neighbouring towns as humanitarian concerns mount.
Community leaders have called for stronger security presence and urgent support for displaced families struggling to rebuild their lives.
Beyond Kebbi, the tragedy has reignited national reflection on terrorism in Nigeria, a crisis that continues to claim lives across religious and ethnic divides.
For grieving families and traumatised survivors, the killings are less about ideology and more about survival. As Nigerians push back against divisive narratives, the message from the Kebbi tragedy remains clear: terrorism is a shared national challenge requiring unity, empathy and decisive security action.
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