At least 20 people were slain in an attack by suspected bandits on the Fesken Rafi hamlet in Kebbi State’s Arewa Local Government Area, raising new fears about the area’s insecurity.
The Kebbi State Government expressed deep grief over the tragedy, calling it as unfortunate and extended condolences to the victims’ relatives and citizens of the impacted area.
Leading a government delegation on a condolence visit on Saturday, Deputy Governor Umar Tafida told people that the state administration is still committed to combating insecurity and protecting lives and property in Kebbi.
He stated that more security officers and operational resources would be sent to the area to bolster security operations, restore normalcy, and prevent future attacks.
“We share your grief and are committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property in Kebbi State,” the deputy governor said during the visit.
The Chairman of Arewa Local Government Area, Sani Tela, and the member representing Arewa Constituency in the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Nuradeen Kangiwa, informed the delegation that the incident occurred a few days earlier and resulted in a large loss of lives.
They applauded Governor Nasir Idris for his administration’s efforts to address insecurity and respond to the situation of affected people.
Traditional authorities, such as the Dikkon Kabi, Alhaji Kabiru Sulaiman, who represented the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, and the District Head of Bui, Alhaji Abubakar Dan-Malam, applauded the government’s intervention.
The traditional rulers called for the construction of a road connecting Fesken Rafi to the main highway, claiming that greater access would boost security response, economic activity, and people’ living standards.
The attack underlines the continued security issues that rural communities in portions of Kebbi State face, despite efforts by security services and the state administration to combat banditry and other criminal activity.