Three police officers of the Niger Republic have reportedly been killed by the Lukurawa terrorist group in Goumki, a locality in Yelou commune, Gaya department, Dosso region.
The attack reportedly took place late Sunday night, December 22, 2024, when heavily armed assailants stormed a police post in the area.
According to Zagazola Makama, a security and counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad area, the attackers swiftly overwhelmed the officers before retreating.
While no official claim of responsibility has been made, the Lukurawa group, known for its violent activities in border regions, is strongly suspected of being behind the assault.
It was previously reported that a newly formed Jihadist group known as ‘Lakurawa’ had emerged, imposing taxes and levies on communities in Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria.
It was learnt that heavily armed Lakurawa Islamic preachers were operating in five local government areas of the state namely Tangaza, Gudu, Ilela, Silame and Binji.
Authorities and residents of the affected areas expressed deep concerns over the presence of the Islamic preachers, many of whom were believed to be foreigners.
They were reported to have set up bases in the affected local government areas, moving from community to community and preaching against western civilization and democratic system of government, similar to the ideology of Boko Haram terrorists.
Sokoto State deputy governor, Idris Muhammad Gobir, disclosed that the “majority of the members of the new Islamic sect are from the Sahel countries of Mali and Niger Republic”.
A resident of the area said the terrorists “imposed strict Islamic laws, luring young people into the fold with business capital”.
“They also collect taxes and levies,” the resident added. “During sermons, they’ll tell us they don’t recognize the Nigerian government and its security forces.”