Residents flee as suspected Lakurawa militants invade Sokoto communities

Monday, August 17, 2026 -Fresh displacement has been reported in Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State following renewed attacks on communities in the area, barely 24 hours after the police confirmed an attack by suspected Lakurawa militants in Kebbe town.

Residents fleeing Ungushi community began arriving in Kebbe town from about 8 pm on Saturday, with women, children and elderly persons among those forced to abandon their homes.

The displaced persons reportedly spent the night in the rain after fleeing their communities with little or no belongings, while more people were still arriving in Kebbe as of Sunday morning.

Local sources said suspected bandits had rustled more than 300 cattle and seven camels from Ungushi and Gwandi communities during the attacks.

Several men were also reportedly killed in the affected communities, although the exact number of casualties in Ungushi, Maikurfuna and Gwandi could not be immediately ascertained.

Two victims, identified as Usman Umar Margai and Sani Abdullahi Gwandi, are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Kebbe, after sustaining gunshot wounds.

Margai was seen crying and appealing for information about his relatives in Kebbe despite his own condition, while Gwandi was receiving treatment in the theatre.

A resident who spoke on the development said the situation had forced many families to flee their ancestral homes.

“People started arriving in Kebbe around 8 pm yesterday. Women, children and elderly people are among them. Some of them spent the night in the rain because there was nowhere for them to stay

“More people are still coming this morning. We were also told that over 300 cattle and seven camels were rustled from Ungushi and Gwandi,” the source said.

Another resident said the number of casualties could not yet be established because communication with some of the affected communities remained difficult.

“We know that some men were killed, but we cannot give the exact number yet. The situation is still unfolding, and people are still coming out of the affected villages,” the resident said.

The fresh displacement came a day after the Sokoto State Police Command confirmed an attack on Kebbe town by suspected Lakurawa militants, following reports that hundreds of armed men on motorcycles invaded the area.

The police said the command was gathering information on the incident and would issue a statement after establishing the facts.

The attack was reportedly accompanied by gunfire and looting, with shops and vehicles affected, while the General Hospital was also reportedly damaged.

Unconfirmed reports had claimed that four soldiers were killed during the confrontation, although the police had yet to confirm the alleged military casualties.

The latest attacks have heightened concerns over the security of communities around Kebbe, with residents increasingly abandoning rural settlements for the relative safety of Kebbe town.

The development also raises fresh concerns about the humanitarian consequences of insecurity in the area, particularly as displaced women, children and elderly persons arrive without adequate shelter, food or other necessities.