Lakurawa Terrorists Kill Customs Officer, Burn Camp in Deadly Kebbi Attack

A late-night assault by armed men believed to be members of the Lakurawa terrorist group has left one Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officer dead and several others displaced after their operational base in Maje, a community in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, was set ablaze.

According to eyewitness reports, the heavily armed attackers stormed the camp under the cover of darkness, firing sporadically and causing widespread panic among residents. “The terrorists came in numbers and started shooting everywhere. Everyone ran for their lives,” said a local resident who spoke to SaharaReporters under anonymity.

The attack, which occurred late Friday night, left behind a trail of destruction as the terrorists burned down the Customs camp after killing one officer. Residents reported seeing flames consuming parts of the camp well into the night, while security reinforcements arrived hours later.

As of the time of reporting, neither the Kebbi State Government nor the Nigeria Customs Service has issued an official statement on the incident. The extent of material loss and the number of displaced officers remain unclear, though early reports indicate that several officers narrowly escaped with their lives.

Growing Security Concerns in Northern Nigeria

The Lakurawa faction, believed to be one of several splinter terrorist groups operating across northwestern Nigeria, has been linked to a series of deadly raids in parts of Sokoto, Zamfara, and now Kebbi State. Their activities include armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and attacks on security personnel.

Residents of Bagudo expressed fear that the recent assault marks a dangerous expansion of terrorist operations into previously calmer regions. “We used to hear about these attacks in Zamfara or Niger, not here in Kebbi. Now they’ve brought the war to our doorstep,” lamented one local youth leader.

Security analysts have warned that the increasing boldness of these groups underscores a deteriorating security environment and overstretched security forces in the northwest.

Gumi’s Controversial Remarks

Meanwhile, in a separate but related development, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has once again stirred controversy by defending some of the armed groups terrorizing the region. Speaking on Trust TV, Gumi described many of the bandits as being on “revenge missions,” claiming that their attacks stem from grievances and not senseless violence.

“The former governor of Bauchi, Isa Yuguda, went into the bush and met over 5,000 bandits. They were all complaining about losing family members and property,” Gumi said. “They don’t just attack people without cause,” he added, while still condemning the killings as “wrong and obnoxious.”

His comments have been met with outrage from Nigerians who view them as an attempt to rationalize terrorism rather than confront it. Critics argue that such rhetoric emboldens extremist groups and undermines national security efforts.

Calls for Federal Action

The Tinubu administration is under increasing pressure to tackle the resurgence of violent attacks across northern Nigeria. Analysts and citizens alike have urged the government to adopt a multi-pronged approach combining intelligence-driven counterterrorism, community engagement, and socio-economic reforms to address the root causes of militancy.

So far, the government has remained largely silent on the Maje attack, though military sources suggest that reinforcements are being deployed to secure the affected area and track down the attackers.

As families mourn the slain Customs officer, residents of Kebbi are left anxious and fearful. The Maje attack serves as yet another grim reminder that insecurity remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing and persistent challenges.