***Operates Across 10 Local Government Areas
The newly identified terror group, Lukarawa, has reportedly set up camps across 10 local government areas in Sokoto and Bauchi states, with a growing influence and activities in the region.
Although their presence was only recently confirmed to the public, the group is believed to have been planning their operations for years, with camps established near the Nigeria-Niger border before expanding into Nigerian territories.
According to local sources, Lukarawa initially operated in remote areas bordering Nigeria and Niger, including villages like Gwanaguano and Mulawa.
The group is known to move frequently, setting up temporary camps in communities like Tangaza and Gudu in Sokoto State, which they’ve named “Darul Islam.”
The group’s members, estimated to be between 18 and 50 years old, use Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic in their activities.
Their leaders, reportedly including Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahaman (Idi), and Musa Walia, enforce “taxes” on livestock in local communities, collecting a percentage of cattle from residents in Gudu, Tangaza, and Illela.
Dr. Murtala Rufa’i, a researcher at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, revealed that Lukarawa has been operating with the goal of establishing a caliphate.
The group’s constant movement, primarily on motorcycles, makes it challenging for security forces to locate them.
Rufa’i estimates that the group has between 1,500 and 1,800 followers, including clerics and youths in Tangaza and Gudu, the ancestral home of Lukarawa’s leaders.
The group has been active in Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, and other LGAs in Sokoto State and even extends into parts of Kebbi State. Lukarawa has also attracted followers by providing locals with cash, agricultural support, and pumping machines, appealing to those struggling with poverty.
Although security agencies dislodged the group around 2020, they reportedly regrouped in late 2023. The group is said to have origins linked to Jama’atu Muslimina, a Sahelian terror network, and its leader, Ahmadu Kofa, is believed to be Malian-based, with ancestral ties to the Kebbi region in Nigeria.
Residents in affected areas are reluctant to report the group due to fear, as Lukarawa has reportedly warned locals against sharing information, claiming they monitor communities with drones. One resident in Tangaza LGA, identified as Mainasara, recounted the recent abduction and killing of a youth suspected of cooperating with security forces.
Government Response
The National Counter-Terrorism Centre has assessed Lukarawa’s active fighters to be around 150, describing the group as “insignificant” but noting its recruitment efforts to expand its influence. Speaking to journalists, Major General Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of the Centre, assured that counter-terrorism efforts are underway and downplayed the threat posed by Lukarawa, asserting that the group would soon be neutralized.