New Terror Group ‘Lakurawa’ Establishes Camp in Sokoto, Bauchi States

A new terror group, known as Lakurawa, has reportedly established camps in 10 local government areas across Sokoto and Bauchi states, according to sources speaking with Punch.

The group, which initially set up operations in villages along the Nigeria-Niger Republic border, including Gwanaguano, Mulawa, Wassinya, and Turigaic communities, expanded its presence in Nigeria by 2018, with camps in Sokoto State’s Gudu and Tangaza Local Government Areas.

Operating under the alias Darul Islam, Lakurawa members communicate in Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic, using these languages for preaching and indoctrination. Key leaders of the group have been identified as Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahaman (Idi), Dadi Gumba, Muhammed Abu, Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Walia, Ibrahim Suyaka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.

The group’s existence and activities have only come to light in the past three weeks. Sources reveal that Lakurawa has been targeting villages in Gudu, Tangaza, Illela, and other areas, collecting taxes on cattle.

According to a community leader in Tangaza, the group calculates taxes based on the number of cattle in their possession, taking a percentage from the herd.

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Dr. Murtala Rufa’i, a researcher at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, explained that Lakurawa has been planning to establish a caliphate for over 25 years. While the group has set up camps in about 10 local government areas in Sokoto and Kebbi states, they are constantly on the move, making it difficult for security forces to track them.

“They use motorcycles and shift locations frequently, making it nearly impossible for security operatives to locate them unless their paths cross,” Rufa’i said.

The group, which has between 1,500 and 1,800 members, including clerics and youths in the Tangaza and Gudu areas, was temporarily disbanded by security forces around 2020 but regrouped in December 2023. Since then, their activities have spread across 10 local government areas, including Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Gwadabawa, Kware, Silame, Binji, Augie, Kangiwa, and Argungu.

Lakurawa is reportedly linked to a Malian-based group known as Jama’atu Muslimina, active in the Sahel region. The group’s leader, Ahmadu Kofa, has ancestral ties to the Kofa community in the old Kebbi Empire, though his family currently resides in Mali. Rufa’i noted that Lakurawa is enticing locals with money, farm inputs, and pumping machines, leading some to join the group out of hunger.

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Rufa’i criticized the group as criminals using religion as a guise. He also revealed that residents in the affected areas are too fearful to report the group’s activities, as Lakurawa members have threatened to kill anyone who cooperates with security forces. “They’ve warned locals that they are using drones to monitor them, which has instilled a constant state of fear,” he said.

A resident from Gongono in Tangaza, who identified himself as Mainasara, confirmed the group’s presence and described a recent incident where Lakurawa abducted and killed a local youth they accused of having ties with security operatives.

Here is video of the week