Suspected members of the Lakurawa armed group in the early hours of Thursday attacked a police checkpoint at Bakinruwa/Maje in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing two police officers on duty.
Eyewitnesses told The PUNCH that the gunmen stormed the Bakinruwa/Maje checkpoint, overpowered the policemen, and set the tent used by the officers ablaze.
A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the attack occurred in the early hours of the morning while the officers were on routine duty.
“The gunmen came in large numbers and attacked the checkpoint. The policemen tried to resist them, but they were overpowered. After killing the officers, they set the tent at the checkpoint on fire before leaving the area,” the source said.
Confirming the incident to journalists on Friday, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said two policemen lost their lives during the attack.
“Yes, there was an attack at the Bakinruwa/Maje checkpoint in Bagudo Local Government Area. They killed two of our officers and burnt down the checkpoint, but the police are on top of the situation. I will issue further details,” Usman said.
The latest attack is the third reported incident along the Bakinruwa–Maje border corridor, an area that has witnessed repeated security breaches in recent months. In earlier attacks in the area, gunmen reportedly killed personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service, heightening fears among residents of border communities.
Security sources said authorities have intensified surveillance and patrols in the area to prevent further attacks and track down the perpetrators.
