Over 300 Lakurawa terrorists storm Sokoto, four soldiers feared dead

Etim Ekpimah

Four Nigerian soldiers are feared dead following a fierce battle with over 300 heavily armed Lakurawa terrorists who invaded Kebbe town in Kebbe Local Government Area, Sokoto State, on Friday morning.

The insurgents, riding on motorcycles, breached the town around 10:00 am, prompting troops stationed at a nearby military outpost to open fire. According to local security expert Bashar Altine, the militants engaged security forces in an intense gunfight, targeting military equipment, local businesses, and a healthcare facility.

During the engagement, the attackers disabled a military vehicle equipped with a rocket-propelled grenade by shooting out three of its tyres and shattering its windscreen. Moving deeper into the town’s Sabon Gari area, the gunmen raided commercial shops, stealing large quantities of mobile phones and food supplies.

The violence extended to the Kebbe General Hospital, where the militants smashed the windows of parked vehicles, including an ambulance and a vehicle belonging to the local Divisional Police Officer, and confiscated mobile phones from patients. Before retreating toward Ungushi town on Friday evening, the group also seized four civilian motorcycles.

While official casualty figures remain unconfirmed by military authorities, Altine noted that no terrorist casualties were recorded at the scene following the troops’ confrontation.

Spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmed Rufai, confirmed the invasion and stated that authorities are actively gathering details on the incident.