At least 15 people lost their lives, and several others were injured when members of the newly-formed insurgent group, Lakurawas, launched an attack on Mera, a rural community in Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria, on Friday.
The assailants, who reportedly originated from herding communities along the Nigeria-Niger border, have become militant following the July 2023 coup in neighboring Niger.
Witnesses described how the insurgents, arriving on motorbikes, attempted to seize livestock from the villagers. When residents resisted, a violent confrontation ensued, resulting in the deaths of 15 villagers and injuries to many others. The clash also claimed the lives of two insurgents.
Samaila Mera, a local traditional ruler, reported that this attack was the group’s first in the area. Kebbi State Deputy Governor Abubakar Tafida, who attended the funeral for the victims on Saturday, expressed the government’s commitment to collaborating with security agencies to prevent further violence in the region.
Nigeria has been battling a protracted insurgency in its northeast, largely fueled by Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The emergence of Lakurawas signals a potential new threat as violence spreads to previously less-affected regions.
