Suspected Lakurawa terrorists have killed 15 people in Kwalajiya village, located in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The deadly attack happened on Tuesday afternoon, July 1, 2025. It is believed the terrorists were taking revenge after three of their members, including a leader, were killed in a failed attack on the same village earlier.

A local leader, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said the attackers came while people were observing their afternoon prayers.

He explained that the gunmen arrived in large numbers and began shooting randomly. They targeted both people in the mosque and those working on nearby farms.

The local government chairman and security officers visited the village the next day to attend the burial of the victims.

According to the community member, this is the first time the Lakurawa group has directly attacked their village, and it may have been triggered by the recent killing of their members.

Another resident suggested the violence may have been sparked by a community decision to reject the group’s influence. A local leader had earlier advised villagers not to marry off their daughters to Lakurawa members, which might have provoked the group.

He said the terrorists were angered by that advice and decided to carry out the attack. He also begged the government to act quickly before the village is taken over completely.

A different villager shared that the attackers destroyed farmland and set homes on fire.

Although women were not harmed, the attackers killed many men and destroyed all food items, including those sold in shops. They also burned down several houses.

After the attack, many villagers fled the area. Most people have now taken refuge in nearby towns.

One woman said she’s now staying with relatives in the city, while others moved to Gidan Madi, the headquarters of Tangaza LGA.

She also revealed that the attackers destroyed the village’s telecom mast, cutting off all phone signals.

She appealed to the government to send more security officers and help restore the telecom network, so residents can report threats and movements of the attackers.

Police spokesperson DSP Ahmed Rufa’i confirmed the incident but said the number of victims had not yet been officially confirmed.

However, a local government source confirmed that 15 people were killed and seven others were injured. The injured were taken to the hospital.

The source also said they had just finished burying the victims, and more security officers would soon be sent to the area to help prevent further attacks.