Keystone
At least 33 people have been killed in an attack by gunmen in north-western Nigeria. According to a police spokesman, suspected extremists from the Islamist group Lakurawa entered the region in Kebbi state a few days ago to steal livestock. Residents of several villages in the Arewa administrative district had organized themselves to defend themselves, which led to a deadly confrontation.
Northern Nigeria and neighboring regions in the center of the country have been marked by violence from armed groups for years. Other crises in every corner of Africa’s most populous state with more than 230 million inhabitants are also stretching the military’s forces.
Terror group linked to IS gains influence
Last week, the USA sent 100 soldiers to the north-east of the country to train and provide technical support to Nigerian soldiers in the fight against armed groups.
Attacks have recently been increasingly attributed to the Lakurawa group, which is linked to the Islamic State terrorist militia. It is one of several groups that have formed since the start of the Boko Haram militia uprising around 15 years ago. Both call for an extreme interpretation of Islam in the country, which is about half Muslim and half Christian. Criminal groups without religious or political aims also commit violence.
One of the most serious attacks in recent times was an attack at the beginning of the month in the state of Kwara, in which around 160 people were killed. Islamist extremists were also held responsible for the attack.
