Three days after joint security operatives in Kebbi State killed Maigemu, leader of the Lakurawa terrorist group in northwest Nigeria, suspected terrorists launched a series of attacks on villages, killing at least 13.

Maigemu was said to have been killed on Thursday at Kuncin Baba in Arewa Local Government Area of the state in a fierce gun battle with security operatives.

Then tragedy struck on Sunday.

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Sunday’s attack happened in villages in the same local government where the terrorist leader was killed. Residents believe that the latest attack was a reprisal for Maigemu’s death.

“The terrorists burned down several villages, sparing only one that was protected by soldiers. We seek protection from Allah against this dreaded group,” a resident told Vanguard.

When FIJ called Nafiu Abubakar, the spokesperson for the police command in Kebbi, on Monday, the calls went unanswered. The text message sent to him had also not been responded to at press time.

The Nigerian Army confirmed the presence of the Lakurawas in northwest Nigeria in 2024. The new group migrated from Niger Republic before infiltrating Nigeria through the northern parts of Kebbi and Sokoto.

READ ALSO: Matawalle Declared Lakurawa Eliminated. 2 Days Later, Military Airstrike Targeting Same Group Killed Civilians

According to the army, the group emerged after the overthrow of Niger’s democratic government and the breakdown of military cooperation between the country and Nigeria.

In December, Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State Defence, claimed that the terror group had been completely eliminated in Nigeria. But two days later, the military killed civilians in an airstrike while it was targeting members of the same group in Sokoto.

Abubakar later responded to FIJ’s messages with a press statement.

“On 09/03/2025 at about 2047hrs, the suspected Lakurawa bandits in their large numbers with sophisticated weapons invaded Dogon Daji, Danmarke, Yar Goru, Tambo, Birnin Debi, Garin Nagoro and Garin Rugga villages, all in Arewa LGA, communities between Nigeria and Niger Republic. As a result, eleven (11) people lost their lives and two (2) others sustained gunshot wounds. The suspected bandits also set ablaze some houses at the affected villages,” the police stated.