Suspected Lakurawa terrorists killed two people, including the community leader of Sanyinna village in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, during an attack in the early hours of Thursday.
Garzali Raccah, security aide to the Local Government Chairman, confirmed the incident. He said the assailants stormed the village around 1:30 a.m., firing at residents before targeting the traditional ruler’s home.
According to Raccah, a faction of the Lakurawa terrorists had banned villagers from joining vigilante groups, warning that defiance would be punished with death. The involvement of the two victims in local vigilante activities reportedly provoked the attack.
Troops of Operation FANSAR YANMA later arrived, evacuated the bodies, and intensified patrols in the area to deter further assaults.
The Sanyinna raid adds to a series of violent attacks attributed to Lakurawa fighters in Sokoto and neighbouring Kebbi State. In Kebbe Local Government, villages such as Fakku, Sha’alwashi, Tulluwa, Bashi Bakin Dutse, and Rafin-Gora have been abandoned after successive raids in which homes were torched and property looted.
The village head of Fakku and his family are among hundreds now displaced and seeking refuge in Koko, Kebbi State.
As of the time of reporting, security agencies had yet to release an official statement. Efforts to contact the Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful, as his mobile line was not reachable.