What You Need to Know
A recent security report indicates that at least 34 individuals were killed in coordinated attacks by suspected militants in Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria. The attacks, attributed to the newly emerged group ‘Lakoura,’ targeted several villages, leading to significant casualties and prompting local populations to flee.
Africa-Press. A security report, reviewed by a local source, indicates that at least 34 people were killed on Tuesday in coordinated attacks by suspected militants linked to the group ‘Lakoura’ across several villages in Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria.
The group ‘Lakoura,’ a newly emerged militant organization, primarily operates in Kebbi and Sokoto States, where the United States conducted airstrikes against militants associated with ISIS last December.
These recent attacks resemble previous raids carried out by the group in Kebbi, where armed factions have targeted small villages in simultaneous strikes to weaken local defenses and force residents to flee, according to the report.
The militants also invaded villages in the remote border area, opening fire in attacks described by survivors as “highly organized and random.”
Among the deceased are 16 in Mamuno, 8 in Awashaka, 3 in Masama, and others in different villages, according to the security report. The raid caused residents to flee after the militants stormed their homes.
The report states that security forces have been deployed in the area to protect local communities, assist survivors, and cut off the militants’ escape routes while tracking them down.
The rise of militant groups in Nigeria, particularly in the northwest, has been a growing concern for the government and local communities. Groups like ‘Lakoura’ have emerged in recent years, often exploiting the region’s instability and lack of security. Previous attacks have shown a pattern of coordinated strikes aimed at weakening local defenses and instilling fear among the populace.
