Two farmers were killed in Sokoto State in a suspected Lakurawa gang bandit attack. Troops responded swiftly but assailants escaped to Niger Republic

Two farmers were killed on Monday afternoon in a bandit attack in Sokoto State, specifically at Ayama village, located in the Balle District. The incident is believed to have been carried out by members of the notorious Lakurawa gang.

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According to local sources and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama, the attack occurred around 4:30 p.m., as the victims were tending to their farmland on the outskirts of the village.

The assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons and riding motorcycles, opened fire on the unsuspecting farmers, killing Tukur Muhammed (30) and Sa’ad Muhammed instantly.

Responding to the distress call, troops from Operation FANSAN YANMA engaged the gunmen in a brief but intense gunfight. However, the bandits managed to flee across the border into neighbouring Niger Republic, evading capture.

The bodies of the slain farmers were later recovered and taken to a nearby hospital for documentation before being released for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

Following the attack, military patrols have been intensified in the region, as part of efforts to deter further incursions by armed groups and restore a sense of security in the Balle District.

The latest incident adds to a growing list of security challenges in Northwestern Nigeria, where banditry, kidnapping, and cross-border crimes have disrupted farming communities and displaced thousands.

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Local leaders and residents continue to call for stronger border security and community protection mechanisms to prevent a recurrence.