Nigeria’s military has raised an alert over the emergence of a new insurgent group, Lakurawas, reportedly infiltrating northwestern Sokoto and Kebbi states from Niger and Mali, media said.
Defense spokesperson Major-General Edward Buba reportedly confirmed Thursday that Lakurawas, associated with militias in the Sahel, have moved into Nigeria following the recent coup in the Niger Republic.
"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 stated, as cited by media.
He noted that while joint patrols along the Nigeria-Niger border have resumed, the military is maintaining heightened vigilance.
Furthermore, the group is said to be equipped with sophisticated weapons and reportedly seeks to impose its own religious practices on local communities. Spokesperson Ahmed Rufai of the Nigerian Police Force in Sokoto State disclosed that the group has been operating in the area for several years, even clashing with suspected bandits under the claim of countering illegal activities, local media reported.
The Sokoto State government has also voiced concerns about Lakurawas, with Deputy Governor Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir noting the group’s involvement in “faith-based idealist” activities, reports said.
Authorities are responding to the security threat, with the state government working alongside federal security agencies to stabilize the region. The Sokoto State government expressed optimism that recent assessments and collaborations with defense experts will provide insights and solutions for ensuring public safety and peaceful coexistence in affected areas.
In operations last month, Nigerian forces reported eliminating 163 insurgents, detaining 82, and freeing 80 kidnapped individuals in the region, underscoring the ongoing security challenge in the northwest, according to media outlets.
* terrorist groups outlawed in Russia and many other countries