At least 15 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured after suspected members of the Lakurawa armed group launched a deadly reprisal attack on Kwalajiya village in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
The violence, which occurred around 2:00 p.m., took residents by surprise as they were observing the Zuhr (afternoon) Islamic prayers. Eyewitnesses described the assault as brutal, with the attackers opening fire indiscriminately on worshippers and villagers working on nearby farmlands.
Local sources believe the deadly invasion was a retaliatory strike, following the killing of three Lakurawa members, including a suspected commander, during an earlier foiled assault on the same village.
“They came while we were praying in the mosque,” said one local leader, who requested anonymity. “They were in large numbers and began shooting at everyone — in the mosque, on the farm, everywhere.”
Another source suggested that the group’s aggression may have been further provoked by a recent community decision discouraging marriages between local women and members of the Lakurawa group.
“Our leaders had told us not to allow our daughters marry into the group. That warning didn’t go down well with them. This attack seems to be a response,” he said.
The attackers were reported to have set fire to farmlands, destroyed food items in shops, and burned down homes. Although no women were harmed, men were targeted, and the violence left the village in ruins.
“They destroyed everything — homes, crops, and even our local telecoms mast,” said a female resident, now displaced and staying in a nearby town. “We have no mobile network and cannot call for help when they come.”
As a result of the incident, Kwalajiya village has been completely deserted, with survivors fleeing to nearby locations such as Gidan Madi, the administrative headquarters of Tangaza LGA.
By Wednesday, funeral rites had been completed for the deceased, with the local government chairman and security officials reportedly present. Meanwhile, survivors are calling on the Nigerian government and Sokoto State authorities to deploy security personnel and restore telecommunications infrastructure to prevent further attacks.
“We need urgent help. If the government doesn’t act now, they’ll wipe us out completely,” a community elder warned.
Spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmed Rufa’i, confirmed the attack but noted that the final death toll was still being verified.
A senior official within the local government confirmed that 15 villagers were killed, while seven others sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
“We’ve just concluded the burials,” the official added, noting that additional security reinforcements were being arranged for the region.
