The Lakurawa terrorist group on Sunday killed 13 members of a vigilante group at Morai community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
They wee killed when they tried to resist the Lakurawa as they attacked and rustled cattle from the community.
A local, Malam Ibrahim Augie, confirmed that vigilante members had come out in their numbers to repel the terrorists’ attack not knowing that the terrorists had already encircled them, killing 13 of them.
Said Augie: “The vigilantes hid to attack and recapture the rustled cattle, but they didn’t know the Lakurawa had already seen them and they were shot and killed.”
Meanwhile, Boko Haram terrorists launched a deadly attack on Izge village in Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State around 1 a.m. on Sunday, leading to a fierce battle that claimed the lives of two soldiers including a Captain and a Corporal.
Sources said that the terrorists who invaded the Izge military formation on motorcycles struck after launching a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), triggering a prolonged exchange of gunfire.
A source said the terrorists initially overwhelmed the military post but the situation changed when local hunters and vigilantes joined forces with the troops under Operation Hadin Kai, eventually repelling the terrorists’ attackers.
“It was a fierce battle. The terrorists were overpowered. Many were killed and others fled, abandoning their motorcycles,” a resident narrated.
Chairman of Gwoza LGA, Abba Kawu Idrissa Timta, confirmed the attack but said he had not yet received the final casualty figures, but noted that “scores of the terrorists were killed.”
He said efforts to track down the fleeing insurgents were ongoing, with troops, hunters, and community members pursuing them into the Sambisa Forest.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) condemned the persistent attacks and called on the federal government to deploy modern surveillance technologies to aid security forces in combating terrorism in the area.
Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were unsuccessful, as his phone line was unreachable.
Written with reports from Daily Trust