Confirming the incident, Garzali Raccah, an aide to the local government chairman on security matters, said the assailants believed to be Lakurawa terrorists stormed the community at about 1:30am on Thursday.
Suspected Lakurawa terrorists have reportedly killed two people, including a community leader, in an overnight attack on Sanyinna village in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Confirming the incident, Garzali Raccah, an aide to the local government chairman on security matters, said the assailants believed to be Lakurawa terrorists stormed the community at about 1:30am on Thursday.
“The bandits opened fire on residents before targeting the traditional ruler’s home,” Raccah disclosed, according to Channels TV.
Raccah explained that the group had previously banned villagers from joining vigilante groups and warned of severe consequences for those who defied the order.
According to him, the involvement of the victims in vigilante activities was the reason they were singled out.
He said troops of Operation FANSAR YANMA later arrived at the scene, evacuated the bodies, and stepped up patrols in the area to prevent further attacks.
The killing in Sanyinna underscores the persistent threat posed by the Lakurawa faction, notorious for deadly raids across Sokoto and neighboring Kebbi State.
In recent months, communities in Kebbe Local Government Area, including Fakku, Sha’alwashi, Tulluwa, Bashi Bakin Dutse, and Rafin-Gora, have been deserted following successive assaults in which houses were torched and property looted.
The village head of Fakku and his family are among hundreds of displaced persons now taking refuge in Koko, Kebbi State.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the Sanyinna attack.
Also, SaharaReporters’ efforts to confirm the incident from the Sokoto State Police Command failed as the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i did not answer several calls made to his mobile number.