Lakurawa strike: Pregnant woman, 4 others killed in fresh attack on Sokoto village

By Musa Ubandawaki

SOKOTO— Fear, grief have struck a farming community of Alkalije in Kilgori District of Yabo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following an attack by suspected Lakurawa bandits that left five dead, including a pregnant woman.

Residents say the attackers stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, shooting sporadically and leaving trails of sorrow and destruction in their wake.

The community, once known for its peaceful coexistence, has now been thrown into mourning.

Alkalije, a remote border settlement near Silame and the Kebbi State boundary, has become increasingly vulnerable to incursions by armed gangs believed to belong to the notorious Lakurawa bandit network that operates across state lines.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims were killed instantly during the assault, while two others sustained serious gunshot injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. The community’s grief deepened when it was confirmed that one of the deceased was a pregnant woman, felled by bullets while attempting to flee with her two children.

A resident who narrowly escaped the attack described the scene as “a horror pick that will not be forgotten soon.”

He said: “They came on motorcycles, over a dozen of them. They didn’t talk to anyone, they just started shooting. People ran in all directions, but they followed some and killed them without mercy.”

The attack is not an isolated case. For years, residents of Alkalije and neighbouring villages have endured persistent raids, abductions, and extortion by heavily armed bandit groups operating freely between Sokoto and Kebbi states.

A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity decried the repeated assaults and blamed the tragedy on the lack of permanent security presence in the area.

“These bandits move in and out as they please. They cross from Kebbi State and parts of Silame local government to attack us, and disappear into the forest. They even collect levies from us and threaten to return if we don’t pay. We live in fear every single day.”

He appealed to both the state and federal governments to come to their aid by establishing a military or police outpost within the district.

“We can’t keep burying our loved ones while waiting for help that never comes,” he said.

Another resident, Hashimu Mai Albasa recounted how several families had fled the area, abandoning their farmlands and livestock. “We no longer sleep with both eyes closed,” he said. “Our women and children live in constant fear. If something is not done soon, the whole community will be deserted.”

Local vigilantes, who often serve as the first line of defense, reportedly retreated during the latest attack as they were outnumbered and outgunned. They have since called for better support and coordination with security agencies to prevent further bloodshed.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufa’i, said the command had not yet received an official report on the incident but assured that investigations would be initiated immediately.

Meanwhile, the latest attack has reignited public outrage over the growing insecurity in rural Sokoto communities, where residents say they have been left to their fate.

As the people of Alkalije bury their dead and tend to the wounded, their message to the authorities is clear and urgent, “We are dying silently, please, do not forget us.”

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