Suspected Lakurawa insurgents have killed at least 20 people in Fasken Rafi, a village in the Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The attack happened on Sunday, and residents are calling it one of the deadliest and most coordinated assaults the region has seen in recent times.
Scores of villagers were also injured and are now receiving medical treatment. Top government officials have confirmed the killings, according to the Nigerian Tribune.
The state government sent a delegation led by Deputy Governor Umar Tafida to the village to assess the security situation and console grieving families. During the visit, Tafida said the government is committed to crushing banditry and violent extremism.
“This senseless loss of lives deeply saddens us. This administration remains unyielding in its commitment to restoring peace. We are immediately deploying additional security personnel and critical operational resources to this axis to guarantee the safety of lives and property and prevent any recurrence,” Tafida stated.
The attack happened barely days after the Emir of Argungu, Mohammed Mera, called on residents of his emirate to obtain legal permits to carry firearms to defend their communities. The emir made the call during a meeting at his palace in Argungu. A video of the meeting, about five minutes long and conducted in Hausa, was shared on Facebook by Basharu Altine.
The Fasken Rafi attack occurred under the Argungu Emirate. During the meeting, the emir urged communities to stay vigilant and take proactive measures against terrorists and criminals operating in the area. He suggested that communities pool money to buy legally approved weapons for self-defence.
“If you acquire such weapons legally, make sure the attackers are aware that your community possesses the means to defend itself. This alone can serve as a warning and discourage the invaders from attacking,” the monarch said.
He reminded the gathering that Islam encourages self-defence and frowns upon cowardice in the face of attack. “It's not right for a Muslim to remain passive while criminals kill people, kidnap innocent citizens, and assault women and children. Be prepared to defend yourselves, your families, and your communities against any attack,” the emir stated.
But the emir clarified that he wasn't encouraging communities to take the law into their own hands, engage in acts of terrorism, or target any ethnic group. He said his call was strictly about lawful self-defence, noting that the security challenge has become too big for formal security agencies to handle alone.
“I'm not calling for any targeted attacks against any ethnic group or violence and extrajudicial killings. I wouldn't support anyone using firearms to target specific ethnic groups or engage in unlawful killings,” the emir stated.
The Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer didn't answer phone calls for comment.
The killings have sparked widespread outrage across Kebbi State and intensified fears over the deteriorating security situation in parts of the state. Despite ongoing military and police operations, armed groups continue to exploit vulnerabilities in remote border communities.
Traumatised residents have renewed their appeals to federal security agencies, demanding a more proactive intelligence-led strategy to track down the perpetrators and neutralise the Lakurawa threat.