A police officer and two civilians were killed on Monday after suspected Lakurawa militants attacked Girkau community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving residents fleeing for safety and raising fresh concerns over insecurity in parts of the North-West.
The attackers, who reportedly invaded the community in large numbers, also rustled an unspecified number of cattle and set ablaze two security vehicles belonging to the Nigeria Police Force and the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps during the assault.
Residents said the gunmen stormed the village and opened fire indiscriminately, throwing the community into panic as people ran for cover. Security operatives responded to a distress call and engaged the attackers in a gun battle that eventually forced them to retreat.
The police officer killed in the exchange was identified as Hussaini Manyu, while one of the civilian victims was named as Bala Wakili, an elderly resident of the community. A young herder was also reportedly shot dead after refusing to surrender his cattle to the attackers.
A local resident, who spoke on the incident, said the attackers wreaked havoc on the community before security personnel arrived.
According to the resident, the assailants shot indiscriminately, killed the three victims and fled with livestock belonging to villagers. He added that a farmer sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and is currently receiving medical treatment.
The resident further alleged that a married woman was assaulted after resisting an attempted sexual assault by one of the attackers, describing the incident as one of the most traumatic experiences the community has witnessed in recent months.
Confirming the attack, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said officers responded swiftly after receiving information about the invasion of the community.
Rufai said the operatives engaged the attackers in a gun duel and succeeded in repelling them, although one police officer paid the ultimate price during the operation.
He also confirmed that the attackers set fire to two operational vehicles belonging to the police and the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps before fleeing the area.
The police spokesman said security operatives had intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects, assuring residents that additional security measures were being put in place to prevent further attacks.
Community leaders described the incident as one of the deadliest attacks recorded in the area in recent times, lamenting that repeated assaults by armed groups have continued to disrupt normal life and threaten the livelihoods of residents.
One community leader said residents had noticed suspicious movements around the area before the attack and alerted relevant authorities, but the community was still overrun by the assailants.
He appealed to the government and security agencies to strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities, warning that residents now live in constant fear of fresh attacks.
Another resident said many villagers fled their homes during the attack and have remained displaced, expressing concern over the safety of families who depend on farming and livestock rearing for survival.