Suspected Lakurawa terrorists have killed two soldiers and a Chinese national in an attack on construction workers in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The attack reportedly occurred on Thursday when the assailants infiltrated the area from Kebbe Local Government Area of neighbouring Sokoto State and launched a surprise assault on the workers.

The spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, saying the victims were working on the Badagry Super Highway project in the state.

According to him, the two soldiers were providing security for the Chinese national and other construction workers when the attackers struck.

Usman said the assailants killed the two soldiers and the Chinese national, while several other people sustained injuries.

“Yes, the attack occurred, but the terrorists are not from Kebbi State but infiltrated the state through a village with a border to Kebbi State,” he said.

The police spokesperson explained that the identities of the deceased soldiers could not be disclosed by the police because they were military personnel.

He described the attack as barbaric and unwarranted, adding that joint security agencies had launched a manhunt for the suspected perpetrators.

Usman said security operatives were pursuing the attackers to apprehend those responsible for the killings.

Lakurawa is an armed group reported to operate in parts of north-western Nigeria, particularly areas around the country’s border with the Niger Republic. The group has been linked to security incidents in the region, raising concerns about cross-border infiltration and the protection of communities and infrastructure projects.

The latest attack underscores the security challenges facing construction workers and other personnel operating in vulnerable areas of the North-West.