The Kebbi Development Forum has sympathised with victims of the recent Lakurawa attack on eight communities in Arewa LGA, where 35 persons were reportedly killed, and several cattle were rustled.

In a statement on Monday, the forum described the incident as barbaric and cowardly. It also sympathised with victims of similar bandit attacks in Shanga, Ngaski and Yauri LGAs.

The forum prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the attacks.

KDF further condemned alleged threats by bandits to communities in Besse and Zaria Kala-Kala in Koko-Besse LGA, as well as Utono in Ngaski council, where bandits demanded N100 million from locals to be spared from being attacked.

The forum urged relevant authorities to take urgent and decisive action, warning that failure to promptly address the situation could heighten tensions in the affected communities and create conditions that may become more difficult to manage.

While commending the response of the Kebbi government and security agencies toward containing the violence and restoring normalcy, the forum called for a more decentralised security response mechanism.

It stressed the need to effectively mobilise and utilise local authorities and communities to swiftly tackle such challenges through stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

“Treating security challenges as the sole responsibility of the federal or state government is no longer sufficient, given the scale and complexity of the situation,” the statement said.

The forum reiterated that local institutions, including traditional and local government authorities, must be strengthened and empowered to provide timely relief and to actively coordinate community-based efforts to enhance safety and resilience.

It also called on the federal government and the international community, particularly countries sharing borders with Nigeria, to collaborate in flushing out criminal elements perpetrating what it described as crimes against humanity.

The forum pledged its continued commitment to supporting efforts to address the root causes and manifestations of insecurity in Kebbi and across the country.

(NAN)