No fewer than 13 hunters are feared dead after suspected Lakurawa terrorists ambushed a seasonal hunting expedition in Hurumi Forest, Talewa ward, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Daily Trust gathered that the hunters, who came from various communities in Tangaza and Gwadabawa LGAs of the state, encountered the terrorists between 12 noon and 1pm on Thursday during their annual hunting trip, despite repeated warnings from local authorities over the threat of violence in the area.
Sources said the hunters, who were armed with Dane guns and accompanied by their dogs, walked directly into the terrorists’ enclave deep inside the forest. “Three bodies have been recovered so far, while 10 remain unaccounted for. Some survivors have returned home,” a resident of Tangaza, who preferred to be anonymous due to safety concerns, told Daily Trust.
Locals said Kangiye lost five hunters, Chancha and Rantijadi lost two each, while Gidan Kaji and Gandaba Yamma lost one each, and Gandaba Gabas also lost two hunters.
Military repels attack, terrorists destroy MTN mast. On Friday, suspected Lakurawa armed men launched a separate attack on Magonho village in Tangaza. The assault was repelled by military forces who also recovered rustled livestock. However, the insurgents returned just two hours later and bombed an MTN telecommunications mast, cutting off mobile network access in the community.
Lakurawa wanted to use hunters to ambush military – Official. A local government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the militants had planned to use the hunters as bait to lure security forces into an ambush.
“The Lakurawa intended to exploit the hunters to get to the military. Their real target was not the hunters,” the official explained. He further stated that military forces were alerted to the plot through intelligence gathered by operatives, which prevented a potential catastrophe.
The source clarified that they were hunters from various communities in Tangaza and Gwadabawa, “who unfortunately found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
He also expressed concern about the fate of some of the hunters reportedly taken by the militants. “We received reports that some of them were abducted. We’re still trying to determine if they’re alive or have been killed,” the official said.
He said the Lakurawa have shifted tactics in recent months. “They no longer impose their laws on villagers like before. Now, they focus on looting livestock and targeting security personnel, often seizing their weapons during attacks,” he said.
The group has reportedly fortified their positions by planting landmines on routes leading to their camps.
‘Search for missing hunters ongoing’. Confirming the incident, Ghazzali Aliyu Rakah, Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Chairman of Tangaza LGA, said combined security operatives and local vigilantes were still combing the forest to recover the missing hunters or their bodies.
Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd), Special Adviser on Security Matters to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, said the state government is working in close collaboration with security agencies to protect communities.
Meanwhile, 10 hunters and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) were killed last week in an attack on Kwapre village, Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The Boko Haram terrorists’ attack, which occurred around 4pm on Saturday, April 26, 2025, also left one person injured. Kwapre village, which shares a border with Sambisa Forest – a notorious Boko Haram hideout in Borno State – has long been a frequent target of terrorist attacks.
