A Customs officer was killed on Saturday night following an attack by suspected Lakurawa terrorists on a Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) checkpoint in Maje, Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
According to local sources, the attackers, reportedly riding on motorcycles, opened fire on the checkpoint before fleeing into the nearby border forests. The officer’s death adds to the growing insecurity in Bagudo LGA, an area that has recently witnessed several violent incidents.
This latest attack comes just days after another major security breach in the same local government area. On October 31, 2025, the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly was abducted by Lakurawa gunmen during a raid in Bagudo town.
The lawmaker was rescued on Saturday evening following a security-led operation, although authorities have not released details of how the rescue was carried out. Residents in Bagudo and surrounding communities remain on edge as they continue to live in fear of further attacks.
Bagudo Local Government Area is part of a region that borders Benin and Niger Republics, making it vulnerable to cross-border criminal and terrorist activities. The Lakurawa terrorists, known for raiding villages, attacking security personnel, and abducting officials, have reportedly taken advantage of the remote and difficult terrain in the area to carry out their operations with minimal resistance.
Witnesses reported that residents are increasingly restricting movement and avoiding rural areas where the terrorists are known to operate. “People are afraid to go out at night, and some even avoid traveling to nearby towns for fear of ambush,” one community leader said.
The Federal Government and state security agencies have been under pressure to curb the rising attacks, especially as the region has experienced both abductions and killings of security personnel in recent weeks. Security officials have stepped up patrols and intelligence gathering along the border corridors to track the movements of the militants.
The repeated attacks in Bagudo highlight the security challenges facing border communities in Kebbi State. The terrain and the porous borders have allowed terrorists to move freely across Nigeria, Benin, and Niger, carrying out violent attacks and then retreating to safe areas.
Residents have called for increased military and police presence, as well as better coordination among security agencies, to ensure the safety of lives and property. Meanwhile, authorities continue to investigate the customs checkpoint attack, promising to bring those responsible to justice.
