Kebbi State was thrown into mourning on Sunday following a deadly reprisal attack by suspected Lakurawa militants in the Arewa Local Government Area, leaving 11 people dead and six villages in ruins.

The attack was reportedly in response to the recent killing of a militant leader, Maigemu, by security forces.

According to local sources, the armed assailants stormed Birnin Dede and neighboring villages, setting homes ablaze. Only one village was spared, allegedly due to the presence of military personnel.

READ ALSO: Notorious Lakurawa Leader Killed In Gun Battle – Kebbi Gov’t

Confirming the incident, Kebbi State Police spokesperson, Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed that while earlier reports suggested 13 fatalities and eight villages destroyed, official investigations confirmed 11 deaths and two critically injured victims.

“The attack happened on Sunday. They targeted six villages, killing 11 people and leaving two others in critical condition. We are on their trail, and God willing, we will apprehend them soon,” Abubakar stated.

The Chairman of Arewa Local Government Council, Alhaji Sani Aliyu, also confirmed that the victims had been buried according to Islamic rites.

He linked the attack to the recent security operation that led to the elimination of Maigemu, describing it as retaliation by the militants.

Security forces have since intensified efforts to track down the attackers and restore normalcy in the affected areas.

However, tensions remain high as residents call for increased security presence to prevent further bloodshed.

Kebbi, like several states in northern Nigeria, has faced escalating violence from armed groups.

While security agencies have ramped up counterterrorism efforts, reprisal attacks continue to pose a significant threat to peace and stability in the region.

Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has publicly admitted to changing his views on Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, stating that his previous negative perception was influenced by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Bashir revealed that his time in the ruling party had shaped his opinions about Obi in a way he now regrets.

“Peter Obi is surprisingly not a bad person after all. My views on him have changed recently. My mind was poisoned by my former party members. Sai Obi!” he tweeted.

READ MORE: El-Rufai Abandons APC, Says Party No Longer Represents Progressives

His statement comes in the wake of his father’s defection from the APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a move that has sparked political discussions.

Bashir also encouraged young Nigerians to join the SDP, announcing that an online platform for membership registration would be available by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, has dismissed El-Rufai’s defection as politically motivated and lacking ideological substance.

Reacting to the development, Bwala wrote: “We would intellectually remind you that associating with sore losers to unseat the incumbent is not an IDEOLOGY, neither is it PROGRESSIVISM; It is simply an inordinate AMBITION that is destined to fail.”

Founder of Anap Foundation, Atedo Peterside, has strongly criticized the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing it as unconstitutional and a disregard for the people of Kogi Central.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months on Thursday following her renewed petition against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, whom she accused of sexual harassment and abuse of office.

The Senate committee had earlier dismissed her allegations on procedural grounds.

The dispute between both lawmakers began after a seat arrangement controversy on February 20, 2025.

READ ALSO: Akpabio vs Natasha: Compliments Can Be Misconstrued As Harassment – Ex- Senator

Akpoti-Uduaghan later filed a lawsuit against Akpabio, seeking N100 billion in damages for defamation.

She also obtained a court order restraining the Senate from taking disciplinary action against her, with the case set for hearing on March 10.

Despite the legal proceedings, the Senate proceeded with her suspension, a move that has sparked public criticism. Reacting to the development, Peterside took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the decision.

“The most disturbing aspect of the Nigerian Senate hullabaloo around Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is that the Senate leadership must be aware that her suspension for six months is ultra vires and also disrespectful to her constituents in Kogi State, but they don’t care,” he wrote.