A series of attacks by suspected Mamudawa/Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi State has resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people, including a police inspector. The attacks occurred in the Karwa, Kestu, and Waiwayi axis of the state on October 26 and 28. According to the police, five people were killed in an attack on October 26, while seven others died in attacks on October 28.
The Kebbi State Police Command has identified the attackers as suspected Mamudawa/Lakurawa terrorists and reported that joint security teams repelled the attacks. However, a video obtained by City Pulse News shows extensive destruction in Waiwayi village, including burned buildings, damaged property, and deserted streets. The footage was captured after the attackers allegedly killed residents, set houses ablaze, and looted shops and homes.
A narrator in the video, speaking in Hausa, appealed to the public to circulate the footage, describing the devastation and alleging that the attackers killed residents and took valuables from shops and other properties. The narrator put the death toll at up to 20 people, although the police account puts the death toll at 12. The figures could not be independently reconciled from the information available.
The police spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said the crisis began with a rumor of alleged cattle rustling by suspected Lakurawa elements and an imminent threat of attack. This triggered the mobilization of vigilantes known as Yan Sakai, who allegedly attacked Fulani traders at Samanaji Market on October 22, 2026, resulting in the deaths of three Fulani people and injuring a police inspector.
According to Usman, the displacement of residents from some communities resulted from subsequent reprisal attacks. The police tactical teams deployed by the Divisional Police Officer in Besse responded to the incident to restore peace and prevent further violence. However, the present displacement of residents is an offshoot of reprisal attacks in some villages.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar M. Hadejia, has ordered clearance, search-and-rescue, and confidence-building operations across the affected areas. Additional Police Mobile Force, tactical, and conventional teams have been deployed to work in synergy with other security agencies to dominate the area and restore lasting peace. Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.
The attacks and the reported displacement of residents have heightened concerns about the security situation in communities along the Besse/Shanga riverine axis of Kebbi State. Residents are urged to remain calm and disregard unverified narratives being circulated to cause panic. The police are working to restore peace and ensure the safety of residents in the affected areas.
Key points
- A police inspector was among the 12 people killed in the terrorist attacks in Kebbi State.
- The attacks resulted in extensive destruction, including burned buildings and looted shops.
- The police have deployed additional teams to the affected areas to restore peace and ensure the safety of residents.
