Members of the new terror group known as Lakurawa have attacked Mera town in Augie local government area of Kebbi State, killing 15 people.
A resident, Bashir Isah Mera (Yariman Mera) who confirmed the attack to journalists in Argungu yesterday, said the terrorists struck on Friday while people were preparing for prayers and seized at least 100 cows.
After getting news of the attack, residents mobilised and pursued them to the bush in a bid to rescue the cows. The resultant exchange of gunfire led to the killing of 15 residents while two terrorists were killed.
Isah added that the terrorists were hiding somewhere in Sokoto State, from where they coordinated their attacks, saying initially they didn’t kill but only stole cows and asked owners to pay levies.
That had been going on for almost two months and this was their first attack that involved killing in Mera, according to Isah.
“The state governor expressed concern because he phoned me twice when he heard about the attack and quickly sent soldiers with gun trucks and armoured tanks to contain the siege on the town,” he said.
He added that the commanding officer at Dukku Army Barracks, DSS director and police commissioner with combined security forces mobilised to the area and restored normalcy.
The deputy governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Abubakar and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, also visited Mera town and condoled families of the deceased, assuring the people of the state and Mera town of their safety.
“The governor is deeply worried about the attack and has pledged to ensure their protection against further attacks by the armed group,” he said.
The deputy governor and emir led funeral prayers for the deceased who were buried according to Islamic rites at the Augie cemetery yesterday.
The new group allegedly has links to ISIS that operates in the Sahel.
The military high command had confirmed the presence of the new group in Sokoto and Kebbi states, which it said had been worsening the security situation in the region.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said at a press briefing in Abuja that the terrorists had been checked by the joint security forces.
Buba said they emerged from Niger Republic after the coup that led to the breakdown of military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
He specifically said that the terrorists began incursion into northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Niger Republic and Mali axis, particularly after the coup in Niger.
Meanwhile, military airstrikes have killed at least 70 terrorists in Borno State.
A statement by Major General Edward Buba said the airstrikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai targeted terrorists’ locations at Kwallaram and Arainna Ciki islands in Borno State.
He said the strikes resulted in the killing of over 70 extremists at Kwallaram, with several others killed at Arainna Ciki.
According to him, troops within the week killed 169 terrorists and arrested 641 insurgents and rescued 181 hostages.
He added that troops also arrested 40 suspected oil thieves and recovered stolen crude worth N1,402,001,900.
General Buba said troops within the week under review recovered 192 assorted weapons and 2,970 assorted ammunition.
