Suspected Lakurawa terrorists have killed two soldiers and a Chinese national in an attack on construction workers in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
However, troops subsequently repelled an assault on a military base in the area and recovered 17 motorcycles and weapons.
The attacks occurred on Wednesday and Thursday as the terrorists, reportedly operating in large numbers and on more than 100 motorcycles, intensified activities around Maiyama, according to security sources.
The Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the attack on the construction workers, saying the victims were among workers engaged in construction along the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project in the state.
Usman said the two soldiers were providing security for the Chinese national and other workers when the terrorists launched a surprise attack.
He said, “Yes, the attack occurred, but the terrorists are not from Kebbi State. They infiltrated the state through a village bordering Kebbi State.
“The soldiers killed were guarding the Chinese national and other workers when the terrorists launched a surprise attack, killing two soldiers and one Chinese national and injuring others.”
The police spokesperson said the identities of the deceased soldiers could not be disclosed because they were members of the military and not police personnel.
“We cannot give you the names of those killed in the attack because they are not police officers,” he said.
Usman described the attack as “barbaric and unwarranted,” adding that security agencies had launched a manhunt for the attackers.
He said, “Joint security agencies are on the trail of the suspected Lakurawa terrorists who attacked and killed two soldiers and one Chinese national.”
Meanwhile, troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force, North West Operation Fansan Yamma, repelled an attack by suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group on a Forward Operating Base in Maiyama in the early hours of Wednesday.
The terrorists, reportedly numbering in large numbers and operating on more than 100 motorcycles, stormed the military base with assorted weapons, including General Purpose Machine Guns and Rocket-Propelled Grenades.
However, the troops responded swiftly, forcing the attackers to withdraw from the area.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, North West Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt Col Aliyu Danja, said the terrorists abandoned weapons, equipment and other logistics while fleeing.
Danja said, “The troops responded swiftly and effectively, repelling the attack and preventing the terrorists from achieving their objective.”
He added that troops subsequently conducted exploitation and pursuit operations around the area, leading to the recovery of 17 motorcycles, a PKT machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, assorted ammunition and a communication device.
According to him, the recoveries represented a significant setback to the operational capability of the terrorist group in the area.
“The recovery of the weapons, ammunition, communication equipment and motorcycles represents a significant setback to the terrorists’ operational capability in the area,” he said.
Danja said the general area remained firmly under the control of the troops, adding that aggressive patrols, clearance and dominance operations were ongoing to track and neutralise fleeing members of the group.
He said Operation Fansan Yamma remained committed to protecting communities and denying terrorists freedom of operation within the Joint Operations Area.
The latest incidents add to growing security concerns in communities bordering Kebbi and Sokoto states, where suspected Lakurawa elements have been accused of attacks and infiltration.
