Fresh violence has erupted in Sokoto State as suspected terrorists launched a deadly assault on rural livelihoods, killing civilians and destroying property, even as security operations in the wider region continue to draw international attention.
Reports indicate that Lakurawa fighters targeted charcoal and firewood producers operating on the outskirts of Mai-Kurhuna village, within the Kebbe Forest area of Kebbe Local Government Area.
The attack was said to have been swift and brutal, leaving multiple victims dead and several means of livelihood wiped out in the process.
Moreover, details of the incident were disclosed on Thursday by conflict and crisis journalist Bakatsine, who closely tracks insecurity across Nigeria’s northwest.
He said the assailants destroyed trucks and motorcycles used by the victims, compounding the economic impact on already vulnerable rural workers.
According to him, those who survived the attack fled the forest in fear, warning that the area remains unsafe.
Bakatsine said the survivors were now calling for urgent action, noting that “people escaped with nothing and are pleading for immediate security intervention to stop further bloodshed and restore confidence in the area.”
However, the latest killings have raised renewed concerns about the effectiveness of counterterrorism measures in Sokoto, particularly following recent United States airstrikes targeting terrorist elements in parts of the state.
Residents and observers say the persistence of such attacks suggests armed groups still retain operational capacity on the ground.
Hence, pressure is mounting on security agencies and government authorities to reinforce protection for rural communities, secure forest corridors, and provide relief for those displaced.
As one local source put it, “Without sustained presence and support, these communities remain exposed to repeated attacks and economic ruin.”