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LAKURAWA MILITANTS KILL TWO SOLDIERS, CHINESE WORKER IN KEBBI ATTACK
Two Nigerian soldiers and a Chinese national have been killed after suspected Lakurawa militants attacked construction workers in Maiyama Local Govern...
By Patience
Two soldiers and a Chinese construction worker killed in suspected Lakurawa attack in Kebbi
The soldiers were reportedly assigned to protect the Chinese national and other workers involved in the construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway when the attackers launched a surprise assault.
Other people were injured during the incident, which occurred amid renewed militant activity around communities bordering Kebbi and Sokoto states.
In a separate confrontation, Nigerian troops successfully repelled an attack on a military base in Maiyama, forcing the assailants to retreat and abandoning motorcycles, weapons and other equipment.
SOLDIERS KILLED WHILE PROTECTING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
The fatal attack targeted workers engaged in the construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, a major infrastructure project passing through the region.
The two soldiers were providing security for the Chinese national and other members of the construction team when suspected militants launched their assault.
Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the incident and disclosed that the attackers had entered the state from a neighbouring area.
He said the victims included the two soldiers and the Chinese national, while other people sustained injuries.
Usman described the incident as a brutal attack and said joint security agencies had begun pursuing the suspected perpetrators.
The identities of the deceased soldiers were not immediately released. The police spokesperson explained that the victims were military personnel and that the police could not provide their names.
MILITANTS ALSO TARGET MILITARY BASE
The killings occurred alongside another security incident in Maiyama, where suspected members of the Lakurawa group attacked a Forward Operating Base belonging to troops under Operation Fansan Yamma.
The assault took place in the early hours of Wednesday, with the attackers reportedly arriving in large numbers on motorcycles.
The militants were said to have carried assorted weapons, including general-purpose machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Troops responded to the attack, forcing the assailants to withdraw before they could achieve their objective.
The military subsequently launched operations around the area to pursue the fleeing attackers and recover abandoned equipment.
TROOPS RECOVER MOTORCYCLES AND WEAPONS
Following the failed assault on the military base, troops conducted pursuit and clearance operations that resulted in the recovery of 17 motorcycles.
The recovered items also included a PKT machine gun, an AK-47 rifle, assorted ammunition and a communication device.
Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the media information officer for Operation Fansan Yamma, said the troops responded effectively and prevented the attackers from achieving their objective.
He described the recovered equipment as a significant setback to the group's operational capability.
The military said patrols and clearance operations were continuing across the affected area to track down suspected militants who escaped during the confrontation.
SECURITY AGENCIES LAUNCH MANHUNT
Following the deadly assault on the construction workers, the police confirmed that joint security agencies were pursuing the suspected attackers.
The authorities also stressed that the militants were not originally from Kebbi State, saying they had infiltrated the area through a community bordering the state.
The investigation and ongoing operations are intended to identify those responsible for the killings and prevent further attacks.
The military maintained that the affected area remained under the control of government forces, with security personnel continuing operations to restrict the movement of suspected militants.
FRESH CONCERNS FOR COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTH-WEST
The latest incidents have added to security concerns in communities around Kebbi and Sokoto states, where suspected Lakurawa members have been accused of carrying out attacks and infiltrating settlements.
The killing of personnel assigned to protect a construction team also highlights the security challenges facing workers operating in areas where armed groups remain active.
For the affected communities, continued military patrols and the pursuit of suspected attackers will be important in preventing further violence and protecting residents, workers and critical infrastructure.
Authorities have not announced arrests connected to the attacks in the available information, while security operations remain ongoing.