Suspected Lakurawa bandits attacked Maganho community in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday, killing five residents.
A local government official confirmed the incident, stating that the assailants also made away with a large number of livestock belonging to villagers, most of whom are farmers.
According to the official, the attackers arrived around 1pm on motorcycles and began shooting indiscriminately, leaving several people dead and others injured.
He noted that the community has suffered repeated attacks in the past, adding that insecurity in the area has continued to worsen.
“Our local government has now become a target of Lakurawa bandits and other terrorist groups, making life increasingly difficult for residents,” the official said.
Residents of the community called on the government to urgently deploy more security personnel to strengthen protection in the area. They also prayed for the victims and asked Allah to comfort the families affected by the tragedy.
The deceased were said to have been buried according to Islamic rites.
Efforts to contact the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, were unsuccessful as his phone line was unavailable at the time of filing this report.
However, a senior police officer who spoke anonymously confirmed the attack and said investigations had already begun.
Lakurawa bandits have become one of the most active armed groups in parts of Sokoto State, particularly in border communities close to the Niger Republic. Their operations are common in Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Sabon Birni, and parts of Binji Local Government Area.
The group is notorious for deadly raids on rural settlements, often arriving in large numbers on motorcycles and attacking areas with limited security presence.
Local authorities and residents have accused them of killings, kidnappings, cattle rustling, destruction of property, and imposing illegal levies on farming communities.
In December 2025, the insecurity in the state gained international attention after the United States Africa Command carried out airstrikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto during Christmas, in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Despite repeated military operations and international support, attacks in parts of Sokoto State have continued.
