On Thursday, November 7, 2024, Nigeria’s military announced that a new insurgent group called Lakurawas has infiltrated the country’s northwest region from neighbouring Niger and Mali. Lakurawa is a faith-based terrorist group with beliefs similar to Boko Haram, which has terrorised Nigeria’s Northeast for years. The group seeks to uphold the teachings of Islam and the Sharia Law in communities.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Professor Muhammad Tukur Baba, on Sunday, November 10th, the forum shared that the group has been terrorising communities for months, attacking National Security agents and local vigilante outfits, and enforcing compliance with its belief and practice of the Sharia law.
Where did they come from?
DISTURBING: Lakurawa terrorists offer financial incentives to recruit youths in Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
The new suspected extremist group, identified as “Lakurawa,” is offering as much as one million naira to young men in exchange for their allegiance.
Impeccable sources… pic.twitter.com/pk7WAo9uvi
— Zagazola (@ZagazOlaMakama) November 9, 2024
Contrary to official reports that the Lakurawa recently infiltrated Nigeria, Human Angle reports that they arrived in the Gudu and Tangaza areas of Sokoto years ago. About six years ago, locals in the Tangaza and Gudu areas of Sokoto raised the alarm over the suspicious activities of a group of herders operating in the Marake and Tsauni Forests.
A police investigation at the time concluded that the armed group, known locally as Lakurawa, were merely herders and not violent. Although the police suspected the group was heavily armed, they described them as annual visitors from the neighbouring Niger Republic.
However, on Thursday, November 7th, Defense spokesperson Major-General Edward Buba stated the “new group” was an affiliate of militias operating in the Sahel region. They are also believed to be linked to the Islamic State (ISIS), which has been active in northwest Sokoto and Kebbi states.
“They began an incursion into northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Niger and Mali axis, particularly after the coup in Niger Republic,” Buba added.
The group infiltrated the vast borders of the Niger Republic, which stretches to Mali, after the coup in Niger. They crossed into parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states, exploiting weaknesses in the joint border operations with Nigerian security forces.
What do they want?
Similar to Boko Haram, the terrorist group upholds the Sharia law, preaches in local Hausa and Fulfulde, imposing rules and levies on local communities, residents said. Sometimes, they “help” locals fight other terrorist groups operating in their territory to gain absolute control and wider influence.
Causalities recorded so far
The first victim of the group when they first arrived at the area was a traditional ruler, the District head of Balle, the headquarters of Gudu Local Government Area. The ruler, Magajin Garin Balle, was beheaded by the group after a misunderstanding between the sect and his son.
The first major attack by the Lakurawas was recorded on August 10, 2024, when they attacked a military base in Sokoto, killing three soldiers and setting a Hilux vehicle on fire. This led security officials to believe the group targeted only government security forces, armed vigilantes and terrorists.
However, a recent attack in Mera village, Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, also claimed the lives of 15 residents. The residents said the armed group struck as they were preparing for Jumaat prayers on Friday, November 8th, making off with at least one hundred cattle. This now proves the group is a threat to all.
The need for immediate action
According to reports, the terrorist group is offering the sum of ₦1 million to young men in exchange for their allegiance. On Saturday, November 9th, Zagazola Makama, a Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, shared in a post via his X account that “the financial lure is part of an aggressive recruitment campaign to attract followers to their cause.”
The Nigerian government must act swiftly to eradicate the Lakurawa threat before it intensifies. Failure to do so may result in grave casualties, mirroring the devastating consequences of Boko Haram, which Nigeria has battled for years.
The government must also address the underlying social and economic factors that have contributed to the rise of these terrorist groups, such as poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and the marginalisation of certain communities.
