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Deadly attacks strike remote Nigerian villages
At least 34 people died Tuesday when suspected Islamist fighters launched simultaneous assaults on several communities in Nigeria's north-western Kebbi state, officials told the BBC.
Assault details and survivor accounts
Gunmen overran local defences in a border district, forcing residents to abandon their homes. Survivors described the attackers as highly organised, firing indiscriminately as they moved through the villages.
Images of shrouded bodies being prepared for burial have since appeared on social media, although authorities have not issued an official statement.
Militant group identified
Officials attribute the violence to Lakurawa, a relatively new insurgent faction active in the region. The group was targeted by US airstrikes in December in neighbouring Sokoto state.
Nigeria designated Lakurawa a terrorist organisation last year after reports surfaced that its fighters were flogging people for listening to music. Authorities say the group maintains ties with jihadist factions in Mali and Niger.
Security response and regional context
Security forces have deployed to the area to protect communities and support survivors. Tracking operations are underway to block the militants' escape routes.
The attacks add to Nigeria's broader security crisis, which includes Boko Haram in the north-east, kidnapping gangs in the north-west and central states, and separatists in the south-east.
Lakurawa has previously carried out similar raids in Kebbi, using coordinated strikes to overwhelm local defences.
Public reaction
The violence has triggered outrage online, with many Nigerians demanding government action to end the recurring bloodshed in parts of the country.
