The Nigerian military has intensified efforts to crush the emerging terror group, Lukarawa, which has been wreaking havoc in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
This development follows a directive from the acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, who visited the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto on Sunday.
Oluyede, while addressing troops and community members in Masallaci, Tangaza Local Government Area, urged residents to provide timely information that could assist in the military’s fight against insecurity. He emphasized the critical role of community support, noting, “If we don’t get their support we can’t succeed. And if we don’t succeed, that means the country won’t be secured.”
The visit comes amid increasing concerns over the activities of Lukarawa, a terror group that has been recruiting youths and spreading its influence across the northwestern states. The Defence Headquarters recently identified the group as having links to jihadi factions in Mali and Niger, attributing its rise to political instability in those neighboring countries. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, warned that the group poses a growing threat to the region.
The Nigerian Army has since deployed troops of Operation Fasan Yamma to various parts of Sokoto and Kebbi to counter the terror group. A source within the 8 Division confirmed that clearance operations are ongoing, aimed at restoring peace and order to the troubled areas. “We are very determined to dislodge the Lukarawa from our land and back to wherever they came from,” the source said.
Residents of Tangaza have raised alarms over the presence of the group, with one local, Usman Alfadari, claiming that Lukarawa militants have been imposing taxes, or zakat, on cattle and punishing imams who do not comply with their strict religious interpretations. Another resident, Mahmud Tangaza, confirmed that the group has been in the area since 2018, stating, “They impose taxes, enact laws in accordance with their beliefs, and nobody dares to argue with them.”
Recent attacks by the group have turned deadly. On Friday, Lukarawa militants killed 15 people in the Mera community, Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Local residents had pursued the militants after they stole cattle, leading to a violent confrontation. Two members of the terror group were also killed in the exchange.
The group’s growing influence has alarmed many, with reports emerging that they have been offering up to N1 million to entice young men into their ranks. According to a counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, the financial inducements are part of a broader strategy to recruit vulnerable youths in the region.
Despite the terror group’s initial focus on combating local banditry, residents have expressed concern over their recent violent actions. A Tangaza local said, “It is surprising now that, from the rumours in town, these people are now working in tandem with bandits to attack innocent people.”
In response to the killings, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has promised that his administration will continue to work with security agencies to restore peace. His Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, issued a statement reaffirming the government’s commitment to ending criminal activities across the state. Similarly, the Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir, described Lukarawa as a “faith-based idealist” group that has infiltrated several local governments in the state.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has also joined the fight against Lukarawa, carrying out airstrikes on terrorist hideouts in Kebbi and Zamfara states. According to NAF spokesperson, Olusola Akinboyewa, the operations targeted strongholds of notorious bandit leaders, resulting in the deaths of several militants and the destruction of their camps. Kidnapped victims held by the terrorists reportedly escaped during the chaos.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the government to take decisive action against Lukarawa, warning that the group’s emergence could escalate into a larger threat if not promptly addressed. The Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, urged security agencies to move quickly to prevent the terror group from entrenching itself further in local communities.
As the military continues its operations, security experts and regional stakeholders have underscored the importance of a coordinated effort between the federal government, local communities, and regional partners to uproot the Lukarawa threat from Nigeria’s northwestern region.
