Suspected gunmen, believed to be members of the Lakurawa terror group, have killed two employees of Airtel Communication Nigeria Ltd and one local resident of Gumki village in Arewa Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
The attackers struck while the victims were installing surveillance equipment in the area. Confirming the incident, Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed the details in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi.
“On January 10, 2025 at approximately 20:47 hours, suspected Lakurawa bandits invaded a construction site at Gumki village, Arewa LGA, on the Nigeria-Niger Republic border. The site was being used by Airtel staff installing a surveillance mast for the Nigeria Immigration Service,” he said.
Four individuals, including one local and three Airtel employees, were killed in the attack.
Following the report, Kebbi State Police Commissioner, CP Bello M Sani, and Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kebbi Command, CIS Muhammad Bashir Lawali, swiftly responded, evacuating the bodies to Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Birnin Kebbi.
The Commissioner has since deployed tactical teams with orders to decisively tackle the bandit threat. He also convened a meeting with community stakeholders, urging them to provide timely information to aid security efforts.
Meanwhile, the military has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the Lakurawa terror group along the Nigeria-Niger border. Major General Oluyinka Soyele, Theatre Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma, emphasised the importance of vigilance and local cooperation during his visit to Sokoto State’s DHQ Special Operations Brigade.
General Soyele appealed to local communities to support military operations, stressing that such collaboration is vital for dismantling terrorist threats and restoring peace.
