The Nigerian military has recently identified Lakurawa, a relatively new terror group, as a growing threat infiltrating Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Niger Republic, particularly after the recent coup in Nigeria’s neighboring country. Despite the recent attention, reports indicate that Lakurawa, linked to al-Qaeda, has been active since before last year’s political upheaval in Niger.
Last Thursday, Major General Edward Buba, a spokesperson for the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, highlighted Lakurawa as a significant security concern in the North-west. He noted that the group’s origins can be traced to Mali and Niger, with its emergence coinciding with the breakdown of military collaboration between Nigeria and Niger after the coup.
Though some social media narratives associate Lakurawa with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (ISGS), past studies suggest otherwise. A 2022 study conducted by Murtala Rufa’i, James Barnett, and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz links the group more closely with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), rejecting associations with Boko Haram.
The Lakurawa militants, similar to Ansaru—a known al-Qaeda affiliate—often claim to protect local communities but have been involved in violent attacks on military installations and civilians deemed adversaries. They have reportedly extended their influence into areas of Kaduna, such as Birnin Gwari, raising concerns over the spread of jihadist ideologies in the troubled North-west.
In 2017, Lakurawa was initially brought into Sokoto State by local leaders from Gudu and Tangaza LGAs to counter the threats posed by Zamfarawa bandits. The group started with fewer than 50 youths but has since expanded to over 200 members, mainly young men aged 18–35, according to research by Rufa’i.
Initially welcomed by some traditional leaders to restore order, Lakurawa’s violent shift began with the murder of a Tangaza district leader who had originally supported them. Since then, they have imposed strict rules, collected “Zakat” (charitable donations), and punished those engaging in activities deemed un-Islamic, such as music and dancing.
Joint military operations in late 2018 briefly suppressed the group, but local support allowed Lakurawa to persist. Community leaders who had initially enlisted them turned against the group as their actions diverged from their stated mission.
Following the recent coup in Niger, Lakurawa’s activities have intensified, capitalizing on the weakened military cooperation between Nigerian and Nigerien forces. Their latest resurgence has been marked by a new alignment with bandits and some Fulani communities, challenging the outlawed Yan Sakai vigilante group.
Lakurawa’s evolution from a bandit-countering militia to a violent, ideologically-driven insurgency poses an ongoing challenge to Nigerian security efforts in the region. The complex ties with local communities and broader jihadist networks underscore the difficulties in fully addressing the threat they represent.
