Dare Babalola
The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a suspected bandit in a gun duel after the group attacked Kwagware village in Arewa Local Government Area.
This was made public on Thursday, una statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Nafiu Abubakar.
The armed gang reportedly stormed the village on Wednesday, November 5, making off with an undisclosed number of cattle and snatching residents’ mobile phones.
According to him, operatives from the Yeldu Division, in collaboration with local vigilantes, pursued the attackers and engaged them in a gun duel, leading to the death of one suspect while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
Abubakar added that an unregistered Boxer motorcycle was burnt by residents, while a Tecno mobile phone was recovered at the scene.
He said additional police tactical units, military personnel, and vigilantes had been deployed to the area to restore calm and prevent further attacks.
The state Commissioner of Police, Bello M. Sani, commended the operatives and urged them to sustain the offensive against criminal groups across the state.
Lakurawa is an armed group affiliated with the Islamic State Sahel Province operating in Mali, Niger, and the Kebbi and Sokoto states of Nigeria. Their activities are concentrated in five local government areas (LGAs) of Sokoto, namely: Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Binji, and Silame.
Initially founded as a self-defense group to fight criminals in the Nigerian bandit conflict, the group eventually became increasingly radical, oppressive, and opposed to regular state agencies. Lakurawa was described as a terrorist group in 2024.
