{
  "id": 1620551,
  "title": "Locals Kill 13 Lakurawa Terrorists in New Attack on Sokoto State, Soldiers, Others Die",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/locals-kill-13-lakurawa-terrorists-in-new-attack-on-sokoto-state",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T02:36:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/18/locals-kill-13-lakurawa-terrorists-in-new-attack-on-sokoto-state-soldiers-others-die/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A band of 13 Lakurawa terrorists were eliminated by locals in Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government of Sokoto State, during a fresh assault that began during Friday's Jumu’ah prayers. The attackers, brandishing assault rifles, rode motorcycles into the village, scattered worshippers, and unleashed a hail of gunfire on civilians. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants killed five people before returning to continue the massacre, surrounding the community and indiscriminately firing at civilians until the early hours of Saturday.\n\nCommunity leader, who participated in the burial on Sunday, disclosed that 32 bodies were recovered and buried by locals. According to him, the bandits gave their members instructions to kill every man they encountered, sparing women and children, before turning their attention to residents who sought refuge on a nearby hill. The assailants set fire to seven houses, two shops, and three vehicles, but the downpour mitigated the extent of damage.\n\nThe violence extended beyond Ungushi, as the same group attacked Umbutu, Maikurhuna, Gwandi, Girkau, and Zugu communities, stealing numerous livestock and valuables without any recorded fatalities. Four soldiers were killed during the assault, causing locals to claim that their deaths triggered the subsequent wave of attacks on Ungushi and neighboring villages.\n\nThe incident has displaced thousands of residents who have taken refuge in Kebbe, Jega, Koko, Tambuwal, Aleiro, and other towns across Sokoto and Kebbi states. Due to poor communication networks, the situation has forced many into a state of turmoil. The 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, led by Major General Bemgha Paul Koughna, conducted an assessment visit to Kebbe on Sunday, announcing a revamped security architecture in border communities. The Sokoto State Police Command has also deployed additional personnel to affected areas, while the Army continues to conduct operations against the Lakurawa terrorist group responsible for the renewed attacks.\n\nAtiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticized the federal government's response to the recurring killings of Nigerians, stating that condolences were no longer sufficient. He urged the government to strengthen its security response by improving intelligence gathering, protecting vulnerable communities, and bringing the perpetrators to justice.",
  "summary": "• Atiku: Condolences no longer enough, tackles FG Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto At least, about 13 members of the Lakurawa Terrorist group were killed by",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}