Suspected members of the Lakurawa gang killed 15 villagers during a violent reprisal assault on Kwalajiya, a quiet village in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on Tuesday afternoon.
According to local sources, the attackers struck around 2:00 pm while residents were observing their Zuhr (afternoon) prayers. A community elder, who asked not to be named, said the gunmen came in large numbers and began shooting at everyone in sight.
“We were in the mosque when they invaded in large numbers.
They opened fire indiscriminately, targeting both worshippers and villagers working on their farms,” the source said.
He noted that security agents and local government officials visited the village on Wednesday to bury the victims.
“This is the first time Lakurawa members have attacked our village directly.
But I believe it was a retaliatory strike after three of their members were killed in a failed attack,” he added.
Another villager suggested that growing local resistance to the group may have provoked the assault. According to him, a village elder had earlier warned people not to allow their daughters to marry members of the group, which reportedly angered the Lakurawa.
“They were not happy with this stance and decided to attack us.
We are calling on the government to act swiftly before they wipe us out and seize control of our communities,” the villager said.
The aftermath of the attack left Kwalajiya in ruins. Farmlands were set on fire, and several homes were reduced to ashes. A resident described the destruction.
“They didn’t harm or kill any women, but they killed our men and destroyed all our food items, including those being sold in shops. They also burned down some houses,” she said.
The resident added that the group also destroyed the local telecommunications mast, making it impossible to reach out for help.
“We are calling on the government to deploy security operatives to our community and restore our telecommunications network, which we rely on to report the attackers’ movements to local authorities and security agencies,” she pleaded.
Spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufa’i, confirmed the incident but said the number of those killed is still being confirmed. However, a local official said 15 people were dead, and seven others were being treated for gunshot wounds.
“We have just concluded the burial of the victims,” the official said, noting that additional security personnel would soon arrive to prevent further violence.
This attack is the latest in a growing wave of assaults blamed on the Lakurawa group in the Tangaza area. Just last week, eight people were killed in Sabiyo community. Another nearby village, Baiji, was also attacked, with livestock stolen before soldiers pushed the group back.
“They shot seven people—six died on the spot, while one with a gunshot wound to the neck is currently receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital in Sokoto,” said Ghazali Rakah, adviser to the Tangaza LGA chairman.
Rakah noted that the attackers usually strike at night and avoid military forces when spotted. He said, “They attempted to invade Sanyinna village too, but withdrew upon spotting a military presence. Our security situation is dire. These attackers operate at will. The government must act decisively.”
