KEY POINTS

• Two customs officers were killed during an attack by suspected Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi State.

• One officer was reportedly shot dead while another was burnt alive after attackers set a building on fire.

• Security agencies say efforts are ongoing to arrest the attackers and prevent further attacks.

Suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group have reportedly killed two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service during an attack on a checkpoint in Kebbi State.

The deadly incident occurred in Tugar community, located in Bagudu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, during the early hours of Wednesday.

According to reports, the gunmen stormed two customs checkpoints situated close to each other and launched a coordinated assault on officers stationed in the area.

Sources familiar with the incident disclosed that the attackers arrived in a truck disguised as livestock traders transporting animals, a move said to have caught the customs officers off guard.

The assailants reportedly opened fire on the officers immediately after approaching the checkpoints.

One of the slain officers, said to be a junior officer, was allegedly shot during the attack.

Another victim, described as a senior customs officer, was reportedly trapped inside a building where he was sleeping before the attackers set the structure ablaze, leading to his death.

A source explained that two additional officers sustained gunshot injuries during the attack and are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital.

Security Agencies Respond

Reacting to the incident, Bashir Usman, spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, condemned the killings and described the attack as unfortunate.

He stated that security agencies had already mobilised to the affected area and were working to track down those responsible for the assault.

According to him, coordinated security efforts are ongoing to prevent further breaches and improve safety in the area.

The latest attack has once again raised concerns over growing insecurity in parts of northwestern Nigeria, especially in rural communities facing repeated threats from armed groups and terrorist factions.

The Lakurawa group has increasingly been linked to violent attacks in some parts of the region, with security experts warning that armed groups are exploiting remote border communities and weak security presence to carry out operations.

Residents in affected communities have continued to call for stronger security deployment and improved intelligence gathering to prevent further attacks on both civilians and security personnel.