Kano State — What was meant to be a peaceful night of worship turned into horror for members of the New Life for All Nation Church in northern Nigeria, when armed attackers stormed their church during a night vigil, killing three worshippers and injuring several others.
The attack occurred on a Thursday night in early February 2023, at the church’s branch located in Masu, a community in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State. Eyewitnesses say the assailants, believed to be religious extremists, burst into the church mid-service and opened fire on the congregation.
“They Came and Started Shooting”
One of the survivors, Ebegbulem Chuks, who leads youth evangelism at the church, recounted the terrifying moment.
“I was in the night vigil on a Thursday night when the jihadists invaded our church,” he told local journalists.
“They came and started shooting. Church members were running helter-skelter and three of our church members were eventually shot dead.”
Chuks himself was wounded during the attack. He believes he was a specific target of the gunmen.
“Unknown to me, I was one of their targets that night,” he said. “I heard them shouting my name and the names of two other prominent members of our church.”
Though injured, Chuks managed to escape and survive the attack. [Click here to see graphic image of his injuries – viewer discretion advised.]
Rising Religious Tensions in Northern Nigeria
Kano State, which has a Muslim majority, has seen growing religious tensions over the years, particularly in areas where Christian conversions have become more visible.
“Few years after I became a Pentecostal Christian, Kano started to experience religious conflicts,” Chuks said.“The Muslims were not feeling comfortable that some of their youths were being converted to Christianity. They resorted to fighting and attacking Christians and carried out attacks on churches.”
He added that many Christian gatherings are now held in secrecy, with fear shaping how communities worship.
While Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the reality on the ground in some northern states paints a different picture. Human rights organisations have raised concerns about rising hostility and violence faced by religious minorities—especially converts from Islam to Christianity.
Government Yet to Respond
As of the time of this report, security officials in Kano have not issued any formal statements about the attack. No arrests have been confirmed.
The identities of the three slain worshippers have also not been publicly released, deepening the grief and uncertainty within the community.
Pastor Shuaibu Yohanna, the senior pastor of the church, has called for urgent government action.
“We are asking the authorities to do their duty,” he said. “These killings must not be swept under the carpet.”
Church leaders are demanding a full investigation and swift justice for those responsible.
A Community in Mourning
The Masu community remains shaken as fears grow over the state’s ability—or willingness—to protect its Christian population from further violence.
