A newly formed insurgent group called Lakurawas attacked a rural community in northwest Nigeria’s Kebbi state, killing at least 15 people and wounding several others, according to local residents. The assault occurred after the insurgents attempted to steal livestock.
Nigeria continues to face significant security challenges, including a prolonged insurgency led by Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in the northeast.
The group Lakurawas, formed by militant herding communities along the Nigeria-Niger border following a coup in Niger in July 2023, has recently emerged as a threat.
Witnesses reported that the insurgents arrived on motorbikes in the village of Mera, located in Kebbi’s Augie local government area, on Friday. When villagers resisted the theft of their cattle, gunfire broke out, resulting in 15 deaths and multiple injuries. Two insurgents were also reported killed.
Samaila Mera, a local traditional leader, confirmed this was the group’s first recorded attack in the region.
State Deputy Governor Abubakar Tafida attended the victims’ funeral on Saturday and assured the public that the government, alongside security forces, is taking measures to prevent further violence.