13 hunters killed as Lakurawa terrorists launch fresh attack in Sokoto

No fewer than 13 hunters have been reportedly killed in an attack by members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Hurumi Forest, Talewa ward, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to Daily Trust, he hunters, who came from various communities in Tangaza and Gwadabawa LGAs of the state, encountered the terrorists between 12 noon and 1pm on Thursday during their annual hunting trip, despite repeated warnings from local authorities over the threat of violence in the area.

The hunters, who were armed with Dane guns and accompanied by their dogs, walked directly into the terrorists’ enclave deep inside the forest.

“Three bodies have been recovered so far, while 10 remain unaccounted for. Some survivors have returned home,” a resident of Tangaza, who preferred to be anonymous due to safety concerns,” a source sadi.

Locals said Kangiye lost five hunters, Chancha and Rantijadi lost two each, while Gidan Kaji and Gandaba Yamma lost one each, and Gandaba Gabas also lost two hunters.

On Friday, suspected Lakurawa armed men launched a separate attack on Magonho village in Tangaza. The assault was repelled by military forces who also recovered rustled livestock.

However, the insurgents returned just two hours later and bombed an MTN telecommunications mast, cutting off mobile network access in the community.

A local government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the militants had planned to use the hunters as bait to lure security forces into an ambush.

“The Lakurawa intended to exploit the hunters to get to the military. Their real target was not the hunters,” the official explained.

He further stated that military forces were alerted to the plot through intelligence gathered by operatives, which prevented a potential catastrophe.

“We shared the intelligence with the military, and that’s why they didn’t deploy to the area on the day of the incident,” he said.

The source clarified that they were hunters from various communities in Tangaza and Gwadabawa, “who unfortunately found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

He also expressed concern about the fate of some of the hunters reportedly taken by the militants.

“We received reports that some of them were abducted. We’re still trying to determine if they’re alive or have been killed,” the official said.

He said the Lakurawa have shifted tactics in recent months.

“They no longer impose their laws on villagers like before. Now, they focus on looting livestock and targeting security personnel, often seizing their weapons during attacks,” he said.

The group has reportedly fortified their positions by planting landmines on routes leading to their camps.

“There is hardly any community in Tangaza that they have not infiltrated, except for Masallaci and Rakah where military bases are located. But Salewa ward is entirely under their control,” the official said.

He added that the situation has become dire for local authorities.

“Our local government is under immense financial strain. We have been supporting security operations to the extent that we are now indebted,” the source said.

Another resident of Tangaza expressed concern about the group’s unchecked access to rural communities.

“They don’t behave like typical bandits who kidnap for ransom. They focus on government officials, military personnel, and cattle. They only harm civilians if they are provoked or resisted,” he added.

‘Search for missing hunters ongoing’

Confirming the incident, Ghazzali Aliyu Rakah, Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Chairman of Tangaza LGA, said combined security operatives and local vigilantes were still combing the forest to recover the missing hunters or their bodies.

“We have been working since Saturday, but a shortage of security personnel and patrol vehicles is hampering our efforts. We’ve mobilised officers from Raka, Tsauna, and Binji to support the operation,” he said.

Rakah maintained that the hunters were not on a counter-insurgency mission but were conducting their usual seasonal hunting.

“They were aware of the dangers but chose to go ahead. This was their destiny,” he said.

Rakah also warned that the Lakurawa were increasingly using landmines and Rakah also warned that the Lakurawa were increasingly using landmines and other explosives.

“Some soldiers were killed last month when their vehicle hit a landmine. That’s why our security situation is even worse than in Isa and Sabon Birni,” he said.

He lamented the presence of informants within communities who leaked military movements to the terrorists.

“In some cases, troops have threatened to abandon their posts due to this betrayal,” he said, adding that the terrorists often disguised themselves as local villagers, making them difficult to identify.

Rakah confirmed the destruction of the MTN mast and assured residents that both the local and state governments were actively working to restore peace.

Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), Special