No fewer than 20 persons were reportedly killed on Sunday when suspected Lakurawa gunmen attacked Fasken Rafi village in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi.
The assailants, said to be heavily armed, allegedly stormed the community and unleashed terror on residents, leaving scores dead and several others injured in what residents described as one of the deadliest attacks in the area in recent times.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kebbi State Police Command had yet to officially confirm the incident.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command proved unsuccessful, as calls placed to his mobile phone were not answered, while messages sent via WhatsApp also received no response.
However, a source close to the Kebbi State Government confirmed the attack and disclosed that the state government had expressed deep sorrow over the killings.
According to the source, the government extended its condolences to the families of the victims and residents of the affected community.
The source further revealed that a high-powered government delegation led by the Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, visited the community to sympathise with the victims and assess the situation.
During the visit, the delegation assured residents of the government’s determination to tackle banditry and other security challenges confronting communities across the state.
The deputy governor reportedly reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to restoring peace and ensuring the safety of lives and property.
The source added that additional security personnel and operational resources would be deployed to the area to prevent further attacks and strengthen security operations.
The latest attack has heightened concerns over the security situation in parts of Kebbi State, where armed groups have continued to target rural communities despite ongoing security operations.
As the bloodbath in Kebbi continues to generate outrage, residents have called on security agencies to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators and prevent a recurrence of such attacks.
