By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
No fewer than six males have died while three females sustained various degrees of injuries from a suspected improvised explosion device (IED) believed to have been prepared by the new Lakurawa terrorist group operating in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
The incident, which occurred at Gwabro village of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto state, left many wondering at the group’s increasing notoriety.
Giving a vivid account of what transpired, an eyewitness who simply gave his name as Malam Hashimu said the sad incident happened on Sunday afternoon during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
Hashimu, who said that as is the tradition, people, especially youths usually go from village to village to visit relatives and pay Salah homage, added that, it was while on the trip that they encountered the ugly blast.
“They were simply unfortunate. These innocent victims were walking from Gwabro to the neighboring Zurmuku community when they saw the device. Apparently not knowing what it was, they might have touched it, leading to the explosion,” he said.
Confirming the development, Sokoto State Police Command Spokesperson, ASP Ahmed Rufai said the explosion actually led to the death of six males and severe injury to three females.
Hashimu, who also gave similar account of how the tragedy occurred, added that, those injured were rushed to Tangaza General Hospital where they are responding to treatment.
Though efforts to speak with the Tangaza local government chairman before filing this story was not successful, his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Alhaji Garzali Raka, confirmed that those killed by the explosion have been buried according to Islamic rites.
Commenting on the development, another local from Tangaza said, the threats by the Lakurawa terrorist group was gradually getting to its zenith as they have graduated to manufacturing Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
According to him, the Lakurawa group have for long been oppressing and extorting them, leading to the killing countless numbers of persons and displacement of communities who cannot pay levies imposed on them by the terrorists to appease them.
“These people are not Nigerians, but they have come and continue to invite their people to come, not just because of our porous borders, but also because they have people on ground that welcome them into their midst.
“They will come and carry out evils undetected, unapprehended and go back to their country with the spoils of the cold war they have declared on us,” he lamented.
