Residents Abandon Night Congregational Ramadan Prayers In Kwara Over Fear Of Terror Attacks

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

Residents in several rural communities of Kwara State, Nigeria (notably in Edu, Patigi, Kaiama, Gbugbu, Yikpata, Kali, Baburasa and Gada Oli) have stopped attending night congregational prayers (including Taraweeh, Maghrib and Ishaʾ) during Ramadan, choosing to pray at home instead due to intense fear of terrorist attacks after sunset.

This shift comes in response to recent extremist violence in the region, including a massacre in Woro and Nuku in early February 2026, where armed militants loyal to Boko Haram and/or IS-linked groups killed over 160 villagers and abducted dozens in a brutal night attack.

Residents say that nighttime movement is unsafe as armed men have attacked and kidnapped locals in surrounding villages, creating widespread panic and prompting parents to keep children indoors.

While the state government has called for increased security presence, families continue to prioritise personal safety over communal worship, a stark indication of how insecurity is disrupting religious and social life in northern Nigeria during the holy month.