Latest news with #Lakurawa
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nigerian military air strike kills at least 20 civilians: residents
KANO: A Nigerian military air strike in the country's embattled northwest has killed at least 20 civilians, three residents told AFP on Monday. A group of local vigilantes were struck over the weekend as they were pursuing a criminal gang in Zamfara state, the residents said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Nigerian army did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident is the latest in an air campaign that has killed hundreds of civilians in recent years as Nigeria battles various armed groups, from jihadists to criminal gangs known as "bandits". The bandits had attacked Mani and Wabi villages in Maru district, stealing cattle and kidnapping dozens of people, residents told AFP. Residents of nearby Maraya village and neighbouring communities mobilised and launched a pursuit to free the hostages and the cattle, according to locals. But a military jet which deployed to assist the community after people in the area alerted security personnel mistook the volunteers for the bandits and bombed them between Maraya and Wabi, the sources said. "We were hit by double tragedy on Saturday. Dozens of our people and several cows were taken by bandits and those who trailed the bandits to rescue them were bombed by a fighter jet. It killed 20 of them," resident Buhari Dangulbi said. Bandits have wreaked havoc for years in Nigeria's northwest, operating in broad swathes of relatively ungoverned countryside. Unlike their jihadist counterparts in the northeast of the country, their motivations are primarily economic. Military bombing campaigns against both bandits and jihadists have proven deadly for civilians caught in the crossfire. The incident Saturday was the third such to occur in Zamfara state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Our vigilantes from Maraya and nearby communities gathered and went after the bandits. Unfortunately, a military jet struck them," resident Ishiye Kabiru said, also giving a toll of 20 dead. A third resident, Alka Tanimu said, gave the same toll, with similar details, noting "we will still have to pay to get those kidnapped back while the cows are gone for good". Hundreds killed over the years In January, at least 16 people were killed in a military airstrike after a jet mistook local vigilantes for criminal gangs terrorising communities in Zurmi district of Zamfara state. In December 2022, more than 100 civilians were killed when a jet pursuing fleeing bandits bombed Mutunji village in Zamfara's Dansadau district. In December last year, 10 people were killed and six others injured when a jet hit two villages while bombing the position of Lakurawa jihadists in Sokoto state. In December 2023, a Nigerian military airstrike mistook a religious gathering of Muslim faithful for bandits in Tudun Biri community in northwestern Kaduna state, killing at least 85, mostly women and children. In January 2017, at least 112 people were killed when a fighter jet struck a camp housing 40,000 people displaced by jihadist violence in the town of Rann near the border with Cameroon.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
At least 16 reported killed in northwest Nigeria as villagers battle militants
By Ahmed Kingimi MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - At least 16 people were killed during a clash between local security forces and Lakurawa insurgents who had raided villages in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi, a police source and residents said on Monday. The Islamist Lakurawa group emerged after the July 2023 coup in Niger from herding communities along the Nigeria-Niger border. Nigeria has also been grappling with a long-running insurgency in its northeast, primarily driven by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). One Kebbi resident, Abubakar Augie, said Lakurawa had raided villages in the area and stolen an unspecified number of cattle. The group opened fire at villagers who came out in large numbers to try to stop the assailants, killing at least 16, he said. A police source said the casualties died during an exchange of fire between local vigilantes and Lakurawa militants. It added that the identity of the victims was unknown and that the bodies had been delivered to a hospital. Kebbi police spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar confirmed the attack and said a statement would be released soon. In January, a federal court in Nigeria declared the Lakurawa group a terrorist organisation, a designation that will allow the military to use maximum force against it.
Reuters
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
At least 16 reported killed in northwest Nigeria as villagers battle militants
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, April 7 (Reuters) - At least 16 people were killed during a clash between local security forces and Lakurawa insurgents who had raided villages in Nigeria's northwestern state of Kebbi, a police source and residents said on Monday. The Islamist Lakurawa group emerged after the July 2023 coup in Niger from herding communities along the Nigeria-Niger border. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Nigeria has also been grappling with a long-running insurgency in its northeast, primarily driven by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). One Kebbi resident, Abubakar Augie, said Lakurawa had raided villages in the area and stolen an unspecified number of cattle. The group opened fire at villagers who came out in large numbers to try to stop the assailants, killing at least 16, he said. A police source said the casualties died during an exchange of fire between local vigilantes and Lakurawa militants. It added that the identity of the victims was unknown and that the bodies had been delivered to a hospital. Kebbi police spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar confirmed the attack and said a statement would be released soon. In January, a federal court in Nigeria declared the Lakurawa group a terrorist organisation, a designation that will allow the military to use maximum force against it.
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Expert tok how goment fit end killings of innocent Nigerians afta Plateau, Kebbi and Katsina attacks
Reports from Nigeria don show say at least 60 pipo don die within one week sake of attack from unknown gunmen or suspected terrorists for di kontri. Di worst one happun for Plateau, north-central, wia over 50 pipo die and more dan 1,000 pipo run comot from dia houses afta gunmen attack some communities for Bokkos Local Goment Area of Plateau State. Dem later recover 40 more dead bodies on Wednesday and Thursday night as rescue team still dey search bush for pipo wey miss. Di Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang, tell Channels Television say dem bury 31 pipo togeda on Thursday. Five pikin wey dem burn for Hurti village still dey among. 11 pipo die for Ruwi village, four for Manguna, and one pesin for Daffo village. National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, wey visit di state sake of di attack tok say Federal Goment dey try solve di security problem wey happun for Bokkos Local Goment Area of Plateau State, and bring permanent insecurity wahala for di state. Bandits kill pipo for Katsina For Katsina, northwest Nigeria, pipo wey dey for Funtua Local Goment Area say bandits enta some villages for di area, carry over 50 pipo both women and children join. Dis happun between Saturday and Sunday. Di attackers also kill at least six pipo, and later attack anoda place for Dandume Local Goment Area. Malam Ya'u Cibbuna, one resident of Layin Garaa for Funtua, say, "Around 10:30 for night dem show, carry men, women, girls, married women and small children, total na 53." Katsina State Police say dem still dey investigate di mata, so dem no fit tok anytin until dem finish di work. 'Take it Back' protest across Nigeria - wetin e dey about? Tariffs: Why 'bloodbath' dey on Asian markets? Who be di candidates wey dey run for Anambra governorship election? Again on Sunday, Lakurawa bandits kill at least 16 pipo for Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria, as dem attack Tungar Ladan and Tungar Taura communities for Augie Local Goment Area. Police tok-tok pesin for Kebbi, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confam di attack to BBC Pidgin. E say di bandits, wey dem suspect say na Lakurawa, enter di two villages wit heavy weapons on Sunday. "On 06/04/2025 around 6pm, suspected Lakurawa bandits wit plenty guns attack Tungan Taura and Tungan Ladan villages for Augie LGA, Kebbi State. Dem steal cows but di exact number no dey clear," Abubakar tok. Abubakar kon add say, "Naso 16 pipo die as pipo try stop di bandits wey dey escape wit di cows." E add say Commissioner of Police for Kebbi, CP Bello M. Sani don condemn di attack and don send more police and oda security pipo go di area make dem catch di pipo wey do am. Why terrorist attacks dey increase for Nigeria dis days? Expert don tok say na different reasons dey cause all dis attacks, and if goment no act fast, e fit even worse. Dr. Yahuza Getso, wey be security expert for Abuja, break am down say e get like five reasons. "First, goment no dey do anytin serious to punish pipo wey dem catch say dey involved, weda direct or indirectly, for insurgency and oda crimes," Dr Getso tok. E explain say criminal wahala for Nigeria dey in three parts: criminal clashes, banditry and religious wahala. E add say second wahala be say goment no dey control di way guns dey spread anyhow for hand of pipo. "Pipo wey dem arrest or catch say dem dey involved wit gun trade or armed deals, goment never handle dem well," e tok. E also tok say Nigeria no dey use intelligence work well. "Our intelligence system don weak. Even criminals dey use intelligence beta pass our securities," Dr Getso tok. "Pipo wey dey give info don lose trust for authorities sake of fear say dem go kill or attack dem." E conclude say, if goment no do somtin fast, more attacks go still happun. Di solution Dr. Getso tok say many solutions dey to stop insurgency for Nigeria. "Make goment dey responsible. Dem suppose get beta strategy wey go reduce competition among security agencies." "We sef as Nigerians, we suppose check oursefs, corruption too much. Like mysef, you, and securities, goment and evribodi wey dey involved." E still tok about wetin National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu recently yarn say plenty of di weapons wey dem find wit bandits come from goment armouries. "Ribadu say highest percentage of guns wey dey wit criminals na from goment armoury dem steal am. Dis one show say we need serious improvement." Dr Getso add say Nigeria need to dey do proper risk cost analysis and use di results take plan beta
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nigeria freeze Ipob promoter Simon Ekpa, Lakurawa group, odas bank accounts
Nigeria goment don list about 17 individuals on di Nigeria Sanction List and freeze dia accounts on activities wey surround issues of terrorism. Simon Ekpa wey be promoter of di proscribed militant group Indigenous Pipo of Biafra (Ipob) wey land prison for Finland on charges of alleged terrorist activities, dey among di individuals wey Nigeria govment freeze dia assets. Also, Lakurawa wey be a newly formed armed group wey dey claim jihad for Northwest Nigeria, dey among di affected groups wey dey listed on di Nigeria Sanction List. On Thursday, Nigeria goment inside one meeting for Abuja take di decision say di 17 affected individuals and entities gatz report to di Nigeria Sanction Committee. Di Nigeria Sanctions Committee dey act in accordance to Section 54 of di Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Di section tok say di committee go 'immediately, identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any oda economic resources wey belong to di designated pesin or entity for dia possession and report same to di Sanctions Committee.' Anoda part of di section also tok say "di freezing obligation shall extend to all funds or oda assets wey dey owned or controlled by di designated person or entity, and not just dose wey dey tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing". Di committee go immediately freeze accounts, assets and oda economic resources wey belong to Simon Ekpa, Lakurawa group and oda 15 individuals and groups wey dey di Sanction List. "For designated entities, dis go include accounts linked to dia signatories and directors to ensure comprehensive enforcement of di sanctions regime." Accounts linked to di signatories of di entities go also dey freeze so dem go fit enforce di sanction well, according to di Sanctions Committee. Rememba say for March 2024, Nigerian army declare Ekpa and 96 oda wanted for terrorism, violent extremism and secessionist threats. And den for November 2024, Finnish detectives say Ekpa ginger "violence against civilians and public authorities and oda crimes for south-east Nigeria" while im dey Finland. Full list of individuals and groups on di Sanction List Di affected individuals and entities gatz do di following conditions, according to di committee: Dem dey required to report to di Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions wey dem take in compliance wit di prohibition requirements. Dem must immediately file a Suspicious Transactions Report to di NFIU for further analysis on di financial activities of such an individual or entity. Dem gatz report as a Suspicious Transactions Report to the NFIU, all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or afta receipt of dis List. "Di freezing obligation required go extend to all funds or oda assets wey dey owned or controlled by di designated persons and entities, and not only dose wey dey tied to a particular act, plot, or threat of terrorism or terrorism financing." Wetin to know about di Nigeria Sanctions Committee According to information wey dey available for di website of di Nigeria Sanction Committee, dem dey setup to implement financial sanctions wey dem label as Targeted Financial Sanctions. Targeted Financial Sanctions (TFS) dey designed to deny any individuals or entities associated wit terrorism, terrorism financing and financing of di proliferation of weapons of mass destruction access to assets, funds, equipment or support. Na di Attorney-General of di Federation and Minister of Justice dey chair di Nigeria Sanctions Committee and e dey empowered to make all necessary, regulations, guidelines, procedures and rules for di implementation of di United Nations Security Council Resolutions for Nigeria Who be Simon Ekpa? Simon Ekpa na Nigerian-Finnish Biafran agitator wey be self-acclaimed disciple of detained leader of di Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Ekpa wey dey live for Finland dey champion di restoration of Biafra Republic and calling on Igbo pipo wey dey for southeast to boycott di general elections unless di Federal Goment release Kanu. Ekpa for im Twitter page describe imsef as human rights activist, CEO, senior legal advisor at Ekpa & Co Oy, legal researcher, author, analyst, Finnish politician and Biafra tok-tok pesin.
