By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
At least six men have lost their lives and three women have sustained various degrees of injuries from a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) believed to have been planted by the new Lakurawa terrorist group operating in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
The incident occurred in Gwabro village, within the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, leaving many concerned about the group’s growing notoriety.
An eyewitness, who identified himself as Malam Hashimu, provided a detailed account of the event, stating that the tragic incident took place on Sunday afternoon during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Hashimu explained that, as is tradition, people, especially youths, often travel from village to village to visit relatives and pay Salah homage. It was during this trip that they encountered the devastating blast.
“They were simply unfortunate. These innocent victims were walking from Gwabro to the neighbouring Zurmuku community when they came across the device. Perhaps unaware of what it was, they might have touched it, triggering the explosion.”
Confirming the incident, ASP Ahmed Rufai, spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, stated that the explosion resulted in the deaths of six men and severe injuries to three women.
Hashimu, who corroborated the casualty details, added that the injured were rushed to Tangaza General Hospital, where they are responding to treatment.
Efforts to speak with the chairman of Tangaza Local Government before filing this report were unsuccessful; however, his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Alhaji Garzali Raka, confirmed that those killed in the explosion have been buried according to Islamic rites.
Commenting on this distressing development, another local from Tangaza noted that the threat posed by the Lakurawa terrorist group is steadily escalating, as they have now begun manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
According to him, the Lakurawa group has long oppressed and extorted local communities, leading to the deaths and displacement of those unable to pay levies or appease them.
“These individuals are not Nigerians, but they continue to invite their associates to come here, not only due to our porous borders but also because they have people on the ground welcoming them.
“They carry out their nefarious activities undetected and unapprehended, returning to their country with the spoils of this cold war they have declared against us.”
