Four worshippers were killed and five others injured when suspected Lakurawa terrorists attacked a mosque in Dadinkowa village, Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, in what security sources believe may be a retaliatory strike.
The assailants reportedly stormed the community during prayers on Wednesday, and opened fire on the congregation, killing four people on the spot. The injured victims were taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
The latest assault is coming days after troops under Operation Fansan Yamma foiled an ambush on the convoy of the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Bemgha Koughna, near Mayama Hill.
Read also: Dalung slams Plateau highway killings, warns against ethnic profiling
During that operation, five suspected terrorists were neutralised and a cache of weapons and other items recovered, including an OJC gun, a PKT machine gun, two AK-47 rifles with magazines, a bandolier of PKT ammunition, several rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, five motorcycles, mobile phones and a camel bag containing N840,000.
Security sources said the mosque attack is being treated as a possible reprisal for the losses suffered by the group in the failed ambush.
Authorities have, however, assured residents that ongoing clearance operations will be intensified to track down those responsible and forestall further attacks.
The incident has renewed concerns over the fragile security situation in parts of the North-West, where military operations against terrorist and bandit groups have recorded both gains and retaliatory violence in recent months.
