Lakurawa Luring Sokoto Youths With Financial Incentives -Counter-Insurgency Raises Alarm

A Counter-Insurgency Publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, has said that members of the new terrorist group, Lakurawa, are offering financial incentives to recruit youths in Sokoto.

EKO HOT BLOG recalls that the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, recently declared nine suspected members of the terrorist group wanted.

The Director of Defence, Media Operations, Edward Buba, said the new group emerged from the Niger Republic following the coup which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and the country.

Buba said the terrorists began infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from Niger Republic and Mali.

According to Zagazola Makama, the new group is offering as much as N1 million to young men in exchange for their allegiance.

The publication, quoting sources, said the financial incentives are part of an aggressive recruitment campaign aimed at attracting followers to their cause.

“Unlike traditional criminal gangs, the Lakurawa are reported to adhere to extremist ideologies linked to the Khawarij sect, similar to the beliefs of Boko Haram.

“Local sources suggest that they employ a combination of financial incentives and ideological influence to gain support among vulnerable communities.

“Beyond the recruitment, the Lakurawa reportedly confront and expel bandits and confiscate their cattle in areas under their control.

“The Lakurawa extremists are yet to carry out any attack in the north-west,” the publication said.

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