The State-owned News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that terrorists killed at least five worshippers and injured three others in a retaliatory attack on a mosque in Kebbi state in northwestern Nigeria.

The assaults arrived later on 25th February, following the killing of the Lakurawa terrorists who had been killed in an unsuccessful ambush on a military convoy, the police spokesperson in Kebbi, Bashir Usman, informed NAN.

“The attack,” Usman said, “was a retaliation by suspected Lakurawa terrorist elements after an abortive ambush on soldiers of the Nigerian Army that was attached to the 8 Division.”

The Lakurawa terror group sent its members to fire on the mosque in Dadin Kowa village in Maiyama local government when its worshippers were reciting evening prayers.

A security report that was observed by AFP indicated that 10 of the worshippers were murdered in the attack.

High level of risk of security

The security report indicated that “the attacks in Maiyama local government underscore the intention of the group to expand to the east of Kebbi prior to military agents being able to claim an increased effort in fighting terror in this area.”

The government of Nigeria reported that the US military air attacks on Christmas Day in Sokoto were directed at members of the group and the gangs of bandits.

The Lakurawa group is a military group that operates in northwest Nigeria and has links to the Daesh terror group and the militant groups in Mali, Niger, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Lakurawa have become a major security challenge in recent years, and have been involved in fatal raids on rural communities, stealing livestock and enforcing informal rule in some regions of northwest Nigeria.