Suspected Lakurawa militants have killed 34 civilians in a fresh attacks on some rural communities in Kebbi State.
The villages attacked are within Arewa Local Government Area, particularly Bui and neighbouring settlements.
According to security sources, 16 villagers were murdered in Mamunu, five in Awashaka, three in Masama, and two each in five other villages.
The invasion has forced the locals to flee as the gunmen invaded homes and shot at civilians.
Security forces have since been deployed to the area to protect affected communities, assist survivors and block the militants’ escape routes. Tracking operations are ongoing.
The State Police spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the attacks.
Spokesperson of the state Governor, Abdullahi Idris Zuru, said the government was deeply worried over what he described as an unprovoked attack by “heartless terrorists” who killed scores of fasting Muslims.
Zuru said “the latest attack by these misguided criminal elements is just the last kick of a dying horse because the Kebbi State Government, in collaboration with the Nigerian military, is closing in on the terrorists, who are mostly spillovers from Niger Republic and Sokoto, as they have no permanent base in Kebbi.”
He said the state was mourning the victims and sharing in the grief of their families, adding that survivors would receive immediate assistance from the government.
