SOKOTO — At least four persons have been confirmed dead and three others seriously injured following a violent raid by suspected Lakurawa terrorists on Baidi village in the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The attack, which occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026, saw heavily armed insurgents invade the border community in large numbers. According to reports from Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the terrorists operated for several minutes, firing indiscriminately at residents before fleeing toward the nearby frontier with the Niger Republic.
The reporting of the tragedy was significantly delayed due to a persistent communication blackout in the remote community. This lack of telecommunications infrastructure, common in Nigeria’s northern border regions, hampered the ability of residents to send an early distress signal to security agencies during the onslaught.
Security sources indicate that the attackers utilized the porous nature of the international border to facilitate their entry and subsequent escape. The Lakurawa group, which has gained notoriety for its extremist ideology and aggressive taxation of local communities, has remained a significant threat in the Tangaza, Gudu, and Illela axes despite recent military offensives.
This latest incursion comes in the wake of intensified security concerns in Sokoto. In late December 2025, the region witnessed high-profile military interventions, including reported foreign tactical support aimed at neutralizing Lakurawa strongholds. However, Thursday’s raid suggests that remnants of the group continue to maintain operational capabilities in the dense forests along the Nigeria-Niger border.
The bodies of the deceased have been recovered, while the injured are reportedly receiving medical attention at a regional healthcare facility. As of Saturday, January 24, 2026, security forces have intensified patrols in the Tangaza general area to reassure residents and prevent further incursions. Local leaders have once again appealed to the Federal Government for a permanent military presence and improved communication infrastructure to bolster the security of vulnerable border settlements.
