Suspected Lakurawa terrorists attacked a mosque in reprisal for a failed ambush on a Nigerian Army General Officer Commanding (GOC), killing five worshippers and injuring three others.
The assailants stormed the Dadinkowa community mosque in Maiyama Local Government Area on Wednesday during evening prayers and opened fire on congregants.
Confirming the incident, Kebbi Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, stated that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the militants’ earlier defeat by the military.
“The attack was a reprisal by suspected Lakurawa terrorist elements following a failed ambush on troops of the Nigerian Army attached to the 8 Division,” Usman said.
He said the chain of events began on Febuar 24, when the GOC, 8 Division, and Commander, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Maj.-Gen. Bemgha Koughna, came under attack while on his way to visit frontline troops deployed in the state.
“The GOC’s convoy, while navigating the forested terrain near Mayama Hill, came under heavy gunfire from armed terrorists believed to be members of Lakurawa group.
“Troops responded with superior firepower, engaged the attackers in a fierce gun duel and neutralised five of them, thereby foiling the ambush,” Usman said.
On the recent incident, the PRO confirmed that five worshippers died from gunshot wounds sustained in the attack, while three others suffered varying degrees of injuries and were evacuated to nearby medical facilities for treatment.