At least 13 vigilante members were killed in an attack by suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Morai village, Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The incident occurred on Sunday when the assailants stormed the village with the intention of rustling cattle.
The vigilantes, acting on intelligence, had taken cover in nearby shrubs to set up an ambush in an attempt to recover the stolen livestock and repel the attackers. However, the vigilantes were caught off guard as the assailants had already surrounded the area.
Alhaji Augie, a local resident, explained that as the vigilantes attempted to intercept the attackers, the gunmen opened fire, killing at least 13 vigilantes on the spot. “The village where the attack occurred is just about three kilometers from ours,” Augie added in an interview with journalists.
So far, six of the deceased have been recovered and buried according to Islamic rites, while search operations are ongoing for the remaining bodies.
Efforts to contact the Kebbi State Police Command for a statement on the incident were unsuccessful, as spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar did not respond to calls or text messages at the time of filing this report.
This attack marks a troubling escalation in violence in the region, where terrorist groups and bandits have continued to target communities, with local vigilantes often being at the forefront of efforts to combat these threats.
