Urgent Call to Action: North-West Communities Demand Crackdown on Lakurawa Terrorists

Communities across Nigeria’s North-West region are sounding the alarm about the Lakurawa terrorist group, which has reportedly allied with local bandits, escalating violence and insecurity in states like Kebbi, Sokoto, and others. The rise in terror attacks, including the killing of two policemen and the rustling of over 200 cattle in Kebbi State, has left residents desperate for immediate action from the government and security agencies to eliminate these threats.

Despite claims from the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, that the Lakurawa group had been dislodged, the violence continues. Last November, the group had attacked the Mera community in Kebbi, killing 17 people and stealing livestock.

Lakurawa, which has links to terrorist groups from the Sahel region—particularly from Mali and Niger—has set up strongholds in at least 10 Local Government Areas across Sokoto and Bauchi states, causing widespread panic.

Residents are increasingly concerned about their safety. Mallam Altine Isa from Isa Local Government expressed his worries, stating that while efforts to dislodge the group are ongoing, the Lakurawa terrorists are still operating with other bandit groups, exacerbating the insecurity. “These people work with large numbers of bandits, and their presence in the bush is making everyone fearful,” he said.

Dr. Murtala Rufai, a public analyst from Sokoto, confirmed this troubling alliance, explaining that while Lakurawa initially attacked bandits, the two groups now share common interests. “They both realized their motives align, and this has made it harder for security forces to tackle them effectively,” Rufai said.

Sokoto resident Mallam Yusuf Dingyadi also noted an increase in terrorist attacks along key roads, like the Gusau-Sokoto route. “They now enter homes along Maiyanchi road, which wasn’t their tactic before, showing that they may be collaborating,” Dingyadi said.

However, both Sokoto and Kebbi state governments have denied knowledge of any formal alliance between Lakurawa and bandits. Authorities have reassured the public that renewed efforts are underway to combat the ongoing insecurity. Sokoto’s Special Adviser on Security, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd.), emphasized the state’s collaborative work with security agencies, including the Army, Air Force, and police.

Kebbi State’s spokesman, Ahmed Idris, also responded to the Lakurawa attack last Friday, saying that the governor had immediately contacted the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and that security forces had cleared the area, recovering cattle and neutralizing some of the bandits.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters reiterated its commitment to eradicating the Lakurawa group and other criminal elements in the North-West. Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, the Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that military operations are not confined to Sokoto but cover the entire region.

Despite these challenges, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, expressed optimism about the progress of Nigeria’s military campaign against terrorism. Musa stated that significant progress had been made, and he hoped that within two years, the military would have largely quelled the insecurity. He also noted that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism is critical to maintaining peace in the Sahel region.

The Nigerian government has reiterated its stance against allowing foreign military bases on its soil, with Musa stressing that Nigeria is capable of securing its borders and contributing to regional peace without external intervention.