A Nigeria Customs Service officer has been killed after suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group launched a violent raid on a customs camp in Maje, a community in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Local residents said the attackers arrived in large numbers, firing indiscriminately at the facility before setting it ablaze. The officer reportedly died on the spot, and surviving personnel and villagers fled in search of safety as gunfire rang out.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with the attackers overwhelming the camp and torching its structures within minutes.
The Lakurawa group, which has been linked to repeated assaults across the state, has intensified its activities in recent months, exploiting porous borders and limited security presence in northwestern Nigeria.
Muhammad Tajudeen, spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service Area Command in Kebbi, confirmed the incident, noting that details were still being gathered.
The attack has deepened anxiety in Bagudo, which has faced a surge in insecurity. Only last week, terrorists abducted the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Sama’ila Bagudo, in the same local government area, underscoring the deteriorating situation.
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris attended the slain officer’s funeral on Sunday, joined by senior government officials, security commanders and community leaders.
His presence signalled growing concern about the reach of armed groups that continue to threaten residents, disrupt trade routes and target security personnel.
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