Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has revealed that some individuals and groups, including civilians and military personnel, are profiting from the ongoing insurgency in the region.
Speaking as a guest on Channels TV on Sunday night, Zulum stated that these beneficiaries extend beyond Borno and are spread across the country.

He disclosed that informants within local communities and even military officers supplying ammunition to insurgents have been uncovered, complicating efforts to restore peace.
“Many times, informants were arrested within the community, and military personnel were caught trying to provide ammunition to the insurgents,” Zulum said.

The Governor also highlighted the role of porous borders, particularly around Lake Chad and the Sambisa forest, in creating safe havens for terrorists.
He noted foreign involvement as another factor fueling the prolonged crisis.

“Some people, across various strata, do not want to see the end of this crisis because they benefit from it,” Zulum remarked, emphasizing the complexity of resolving the insurgency due to these hidden interests.

Zulum’s candid revelations underscore the challenges facing counter-insurgency efforts in Borno, where both internal and external factors continue to fuel the decade-long conflict.

***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.

The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, has arrived in Sokoto for his first operational visit to the 8th Division Area of Responsibility, following reports of increased terrorist activities by a new group, ‘Lakurawa,’ in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

During his visit, General Oluyede will engage with the Sultan of Sokoto and other local leaders and stakeholders, as well as troops involved in Operation Fasan Yamma, the military’s counter-terrorism effort in the northwest.

His visit is coming just days after the Defence Headquarters confirmed the emergence of Lakurawa, a terror group believed to be linked to militants in the Sahel, particularly from Mali and Niger.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, explained that the group’s rise follows recent regional instability and the breakdown of security collaboration between Nigeria and Niger after the recent coup in Niger.

“We’re now facing a new terrorist sect in the northwest region known as Lakurawa. They’ve been identified as affiliates of terror networks in Mali and Niger,” General Buba said. “Their infiltration is centered in northern Nigeria, mainly Sokoto and Kebbi states.”

Five local government areas in Sokoto are reportedly under threat from the group, which has intensified local security challenges.
In response, Nigerian troops have scaled up their operations to contain Lakurawa’s spread, with intensified patrols and surveillance in affected regions.
The military has also released a list of nine individuals wanted in connection with the security issues facing the northwest.

General Oluyede’s visit reaffirms the military’s resolve to combat the rise in terrorism and reinforce security efforts in vulnerable regions. By meeting local leaders and frontline troops, the Acting Army Chief is reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to stabilizing the region and protecting communities from emerging threats.