Lakurawa Terrorists: A Memo to NSA, Security Chiefs, by Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

Lakurawa Terrorists: A Memo to NSA, Security Chiefs

By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi,

Last week, the Defence and Force Headquarters confirmed the existence of a new terror group, “Lakurawa,” operating in the Northwest, particularly in the Kebbi and Sokoto axes.

This joint statement substantiates an earlier alert raised by Sokoto lawmaker representing Tangaza/Gudu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives about the presence of this highly-dangerous criminal syndicate in the state.

Both Sokoto and Kebbi States have long struggled with attacks from organized bandits who routinely disrupt socio-economic activities by killing, abducting for ransom, rustling livestock, imposing levies, and destroying farmlands.

Given the current trajectory of Nigeria’s security landscape, it is imperative that no state should be forced to face additional security challenges in any form.

The most concerning aspect of the emergence of this new terror group is the fear that, if not immediately confronted and neutralized, the situation may escalate to a level comparable to the persistent Boko Haram insurgency, which has plagued the BAY states (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe) in the Northeast.

Boko Haram initially surfaced as a minority group in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State, known for violent extremism and radical ideology under the pioneer leadership of the late Mohammed Yusuf. Although the group existed for years, it became widely known in 2009, when it began its violent campaign and declared war on the state, demonstrating its desire to establish a Caliphate—a development that Nigeria’s government, under the late President Umar Musa Yar’adua, condemned as treasonous.

It is unfortunate that Nigeria has been unable, for over a decade, to fully contain Boko Haram, a non-state actor that not only recruited and radicalized others within society but also formed alliances with terrorist syndicates operating across Africa and the Middle East, such as Al Qaeda and ISIS. Numerous captured insurgents have been identified as non-Nigerians, highlighting the group’s international ties.

In addition, a faction of Boko Haram evolved into the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), another powerful group wreaking havoc across communities in the Northeast. Boko Haram has now expanded operations into Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, turning a local problem into a regional crisis. This concerning trajectory raises questions about governmental and institutional response.

Similar to Boko Haram, reports indicate that “Lakurawa” has been active in Sokoto villages for the past six years. In October 2018, around 200 jihadis reportedly arrived in Sokoto’s Gudu and Tangaza areas from across the Niger border. Local accounts describe them as “light-skinned, Arabic- and Fulfulde-speaking herders” from Mali.

Specifically, communities in Tangaza and Gudu LGAs raised an alarm over suspicious activities by herders in the Marake and Tsauni forests. Initial police investigations concluded that this armed group, locally known as Lakurawa, were merely herders. However, recent reports from HumAngle suggest that, although the police suspected the group was heavily armed, they deemed them seasonal visitors from Niger.

Last week, however, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters labeled the so-called herders a new terror group linked to Sahel-based jihadists. “The terrorists exploited gaps in border cooperation and difficult terrains to infiltrate remote areas in Northwestern states and spread their ideology,” said Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations.

The military has now declared nine members of this group wanted, including Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba a.k.a. Abu Muhammed, Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.

Reports suggest the group operates in Tangaza, Gudu, Ilela, Binji, and Silame, entering border communities from Niger, Chad, and Mali. Residents say the terrorists preach in Hausa and Fulfulde, impose levies, and even help locals combat other bandit groups so as to gain influence.

The Nigerian Armed Forces have now taken action against this terror group, though they initially blamed residents for allowing the sect’s presence. However, at this point, it is not productive to start shifting blame on who is responsible for the earlier incursion, settlement, and expansion of territories by the terror group. Instead, all security actors must collaborate to assess this threat and devise viable solutions to prevent it from escalating, as was the case with Boko Haram.

The intelligence community—including the Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), and National Intelligence Agency (NIA)—must work together to gather actionable intelligence on this group to swiftly address the threat.

Furthermore, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, should play a central role in coordinating interagency efforts. Adequate support and logistics are essential to ensure our security forces can operate effectively.

Subsequently, local residents must also contribute by reporting any suspicious movements, enabling timely responses.

No doubt, with a whole-of-society approach, the issue of Lakurawa and similar security threats in Nigeria can be effectively managed and become a thing of the past.

Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi, an NDA research student, is the author of National Security Strategies: A Young Writer’s Perspective. He wrote from Kano via [email protected]