An attack by suspected militants belonging to the Lakurawa group has resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people in northwest Nigeria near the border with Niger, according to a confidential intelligence report prepared for the United Nations. The raid targeted the Fesken Rafi community in Kebbi state’s Arewa district and took place in the past several days, local media reported over the weekend following a visit by Kebbi’s deputy governor. Authorities have not provided an exact date for the incident.

The Lakurawa, a shadowy militant group with a presence in communities along the Nigeria-Niger border, were reportedly responsible for the assault. The group, linked by some researchers to the Islamic State in the Sahel region, is known to operate across Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. It established a foothold in Kebbi and neighboring Sokoto states after entering Nigeria in 2018 and has been active in the area since 2023. From bases within the Tsauni forest, which straddles the Nigeria-Niger border, militants have conducted deadly attacks, stolen livestock, and imposed levies on local communities.

The recent violence marks a resurgence after several months of relative calm in the region, according to the intelligence report. Analysts suggest the attack may be an attempt by Lakurawa to demonstrate its operational capabilities amid intensified military offensives. This follows a series of strikes carried out by the United States military in northwestern Nigeria on December 25, 2025, targeting Islamic State factions, Lakurawa militants, and criminal gangs commonly referred to as “bandits.” Nigerian officials have described these operations as weakening the militants, although the exact impact remains unclear.

The motivations behind the latest raid were not immediately known. However, local sources note a troubling pattern in recent weeks, whereby militant groups and bandits, including kidnappers and cattle rustlers, have been assaulting and abducting farmers who fail to pay protection levies to cultivate their lands.

Security officials have struggled to dislodge Lakurawa from their forest strongholds despite ongoing counterterrorism efforts. The group’s multinational composition, with fighters originating from several Sahel countries, raises concerns about its potential to evolve into a transnational threat, complicating regional security dynamics.

The broader insurgency in Nigeria, primarily driven by Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has been responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions since 2009. Last month, Lakurawa militants ambushed and killed seven Nigerian soldiers in a separate attack in Sokoto state near the Niger border, underscoring the continued volatility of the region. Nigerian security forces and international partners continue efforts to contain both the longstanding insurgencies and emergent militant threats along the border areas.