Gunmen believed to be members of the notorious Lakurawa terrorist group launched a deadly assault on a Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) checkpoint in Bakin Ruwa, near the Maje border in Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing three officers.
The attack, which took place around midnight on Wednesday, has intensified anxiety across border communities already grappling with heightened insecurity.
According to multiple local sources, the attackers stormed the post unexpectedly and opened fire on immigration personnel on duty, leaving three officers dead instantly.
A security official disclosed that the gunmen escaped through nearby bushes after the operation.
Spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, Nafiu Abubakar, said details of the incident were still emerging.
Efforts to obtain official comments from the Nigeria Immigration Service in Kebbi proved unsuccessful as officers could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
However, some residents and security personnel in Bagudo, who requested anonymity, confirmed the attack.
A resident narrated the panic caused by the invasion:
“All of a sudden, they came in large numbers and began shooting. Everybody fled for their lives.”
Just three weeks earlier, a Nigeria Customs Service officer was killed in a similar attack in the area, during which the attackers also burned the Customs camp and several official vehicles.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over deteriorating security along the Nigeria–Benin border corridor, particularly in communities around the Maje axis.
The Lakurawa gang, long associated with violent attacks across parts of Kebbi State, has repeatedly targeted both security operatives and civilians.
While the motive behind the latest attack remains undetermined, authorities say investigations are ongoing.
