By Joy Yesufu
A police officer and three civilians were reportedly killed on Tuesday following a fresh attack by suspected Lakurawa militants on Girkau community in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The incident was reported by security analyst Bakatsine in a post shared on X, in which he said several other residents sustained injuries during the raid.
According to the report, the slain police officer was identified as Hussaini Manyu.
Bakatsine said the attackers also killed an elderly resident, identified as Bala Wakili, and a young herder who allegedly refused to surrender his cattle.
He added that another farmer was shot while working on his farmland.
The attackers were also said to have set ablaze a police Hilux patrol vehicle and another belonging to the Community Guard before fleeing the community.
In addition to the killings, the assailants reportedly rustled an unspecified number of cattle during the attack.
Bakatsine further alleged that a married woman was assaulted for resisting an attempted sexual assault by the attackers.
Reacting to the incident, the security analyst called for stronger protection for vulnerable communities.
“How many more warnings must become death notices before vulnerable communities receive the protection they deserve?” he wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, the Sokoto State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement confirming the attack or the reported casualties.
