Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Six residents of Baidi village in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State were killed in a brutal attack by suspected Lakurwa bandits, underscoring the persistent insecurity that has plagued rural communities in northwest Nigeria. The assault, which took place late Wednesday night, saw heavily armed gunmen storm homes and open fire on villagers, forcing others to flee into surrounding bushland as security forces stepped up operations to confront the terror threat.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as the assailants — believed to be members of the Lakurwa militant network — descended on the community under cover of darkness. Residents told reporters that the attackers fired indiscriminately, leaving a trail of bloodshed before disappearing into the border region between Sokoto and neighbouring Kebbi State, where similar groups have long operated.
Baidi and nearby settlements such as Sanyinna have been repeatedly targeted by Lakurwa fighters, who analysts say maintain a cross-border presence and exploit porous frontiers for mobility and supply. One local resident linked the recent violence to alleged community resistance against directives reportedly issued by the bandits, a claim that highlights the complex interplay between rural authority structures and armed groups in the region. Funeral prayers for the victims were held on Thursday, with families burying their loved ones amid rising calls for enhanced protection from security agencies.
The attack came as Nigerian military forces intensified coordinated operations against armed groups across the northwest, recording notable gains in both counter-terror and counter-kidnapping campaigns. In a series of actions over the past week, troops from the Joint Task Force North West, operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have acted on credible intelligence to ambush and dismantle pockets of terror networks, particularly near the Kebbi–Sokoto border corridor.
In one such engagement, soldiers ambushed a group of Lakurwa fighters at Kerani Village, a strategic route often exploited for cross-border raids. The operation resulted in the neutralisation of at least two suspected militants and the seizure of key equipment, including motorcycles fitted for long-range movement, which authorities say are crucial for sustaining the bandits’ mobility across rugged terrain.
Security officials have emphasised that these efforts — conducted in collaboration with other security agencies and local vigilante formations — reflect a growing synergy in confronting entrenched criminal elements. The recoveries and neutralisations are part of a broader push to starve insurgent groups of logistical support and deny them safe havens in forests and borderlands that have long served as their operational bases.
Furthermore, troops launched a separate raid into Munhaye Forest in Zamfara State, a known hideout of notorious bandit factions, leading to the rescue of 62 hostages who had been held in captivity. Military statements indicated that all the freed captives are now in safe custody, with arrangements underway to reunite them with their families after necessary profiling and medical checks.
The dual developments — a deadly massacre in Sokoto and a successful rescue in neighbouring states — illustrate the contrasting realities of Nigeria’s security environment. While military operations have yielded tangible successes in freeing abducted victims and degrading terror cells, communities on the ground continue to face deadly incursions that sow fear and disrupt rural life.
The Lakurwa group, which emerged from earlier bandit networks and has been linked by analysts to broader jihadist offshoots operating in the Sahel and West Africa, remains a formidable presence in the northwest. It has been associated with cross-border criminality involving kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, extortion and violent raids on villages and smaller towns, particularly in the Tangaza, Binji, Gudu and Illela local government areas of Sokoto State.
Sokoto’s rural communities have endured years of insecurity marked by periodic mass killings, abductions and forced displacements. Residents and traditional leaders have repeatedly called for more robust deployment of security forces, improved intelligence capacity and long-term strategies to tackle the root causes of banditry, including poverty, unemployment and the proliferation of small arms.
Government officials have responded by pledging sustained military pressure on armed groups and enhanced cooperation with neighbouring states’ security structures. Defence analysts note that while tactical victories — such as the rescue of hostages and neutralisation of insurgents — are significant, they must be integrated into a wider strategy that includes community-based security initiatives, socioeconomic development and cross-border intelligence sharing to achieve lasting peace.
The recent attacks underline the persistent threats facing Nigeria’s northwest, even as state authorities and security forces pursue increasingly coordinated operations. For the families in Baidi village mourning their dead and for the dozens of freed captives now beginning the long process of reintegration, the crisis remains a stark reminder of the fragile security situation confronting millions of Nigerians living in rural areas caught between armed groups and national efforts to restore stability.
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