Suspected gunmen, believed to be members of the Lakurawa terror group, have killed two Airtel Nigeria workers and one local resident from Gumki village in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The attack occurred when the victims were installing surveillance masks for the Nigeria Immigration Service in the area. According to reports, the assailants invaded the community and carried out the attack.
Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a statement to journalists in Birnin Kebbi.
“On January 10, 2025, at approximately 2047hrs, suspected Lakurawa bandits invaded a construction site in Gumki village, located on the Nigeria-Niger Republic border, where Airtel Communication Nigeria Ltd staff were installing a surveillance mask for the Nigeria Immigration Service,” CSP Abubakar stated. “As a result, four people lost their lives: one local resident and three Airtel staff members.”
Upon receiving the report, Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, along with the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kebbi State Command, CIS Muhammad Bashir Lawali, swiftly mobilized to the scene and evacuated the victims’ bodies to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Birnin Kebbi.
CSP Abubakar added that the Commissioner of Police had deployed tactical teams to the area, instructing them to take decisive action against the Lakurawa bandits operating in the region. CP Sani also met with key stakeholders, urging them to provide the police and other security agencies with timely and relevant information for a prompt response.
Military pledge to eradicate Lakurawa group
Meanwhile, the military has vowed to eliminate the Lakurawa terrorist group operating along the Nigeria-Niger border.
Major General Oluyinka Soyele, Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North West Operation Fansan Yamma, made the commitment during a visit to the tactical headquarters of the DHQ Special Operations Brigade in Balle, Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
He emphasized the importance of the troops’ dedication in Operation Flush Lakurawa Out, highlighting the need to preserve Nigeria’s territorial integrity. General Soyele encouraged troops to remain vigilant and determined in dismantling the criminal group that threatens the security and stability of border communities.
In addition, General Soyele reached out to local communities, urging them to collaborate with security forces in the fight against terrorism. He stressed that local support is crucial for the success of military operations, and that a strong partnership between the military and communities would strengthen efforts to combat terrorism effectively.
