Feb 26 β€’ 22:22 UTC πŸ‡ΆπŸ‡¦ Qatar Al Jazeera

The killing of 5 worshippers in an attack on a mosque during Tarawih in Nigeria

A terrorist attack during Tarawih prayers in Nigeria has resulted in the deaths of five worshippers and injuries to several others.

In an alarming incident on Wednesday evening, five worshippers were killed and others wounded during a terrorist attack on a mosque in the town of Dados Kowa, located in the Mayama district of Northwestern Nigeria. The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, has pledged to intensify security operations to apprehend those responsible for the brutal assault, which occurred while citizens were engaged in prayer and Quranic interpretation during the holy month of Ramadan. Images circulating on social media showed Governor Idris visiting the site of the attack and attending the funeral of the victims, underscoring the tragic impact of the violence on the local community.

The attack has been described by Governor Idris as a "barbaric act" targeting peaceful worshippers at a critical time in their religious observance. The growing incidence of violence against places of worship has raised alarm concerning the security situation in Nigeria, particularly as the initial investigations by state police allege that the attack may have been retaliatory in nature. In response, security forces have been deployed to restore order in the affected village, aiming to reassure the community amidst heightened tensions.

International organizations, like Amnesty International, have criticized the Nigerian federal government for its perceived inaction regarding rising violence and insecurity in the region. They claim that the failure of the authorities has fostered an environment of fear and mass displacement, calling into question the government's promises to combat insecurity, notably those made by President Bola Tinubu, which have yet to yield any tangible improvements in the safety of citizens in Kebbi State and similar areas suffering from violence.

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