A new terrorist group, “Lakurawas,” also known as Mujahidin, has emerged and gained significant control in five local government areas of Sokoto State, Nigeria, collecting zakat and other levies from communities, sources have revealed.
The affected local governments are Tangaza, Gada, Illela, Silame, and Binji. The heavily armed group communicates in multiple languages, including Hausa, Fulani, Tuareg, Kanuri, Tuba, and English.
According to residents, the group arrives in large numbers on motorcycles, leaves some members behind to collect taxes, and coerces residents to harvest crops and provide foodstuff. Those who refuse to pay face confiscation of their animals.
“We know they are coming because they arrive in large numbers, often on 10 to 15 motorcycles. After observing the environment and community, they will leave some members behind as they move to other towns,” a source revealed.
Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Alhaji Isa Salihu Kalenjeni, confirmed the group’s presence, stating, “They are forcing people to pay zakat, and at the same time robbing them of their belongings. Just recently, they robbed a shop owner of N2 million. They also seized his car and released it after he paid N350,000.”
Major Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, warned that the Lakurawas are affiliated with ISIS in the Sahelian region and exploited Nigeria’s porous borders with Niger and Mali. He urged citizens to report suspicious activities, stating:
“This is the same thing that happened when Boko Haram started. But this time, we are out for them from the onset. We are locating them and neutralizing them. The lesson to learn from this is if you see strange people, say something. Report to the authorities. Don’t just assume until it gets out of hand.”
Gen. Buba emphasized, “They exploited the vast borders from Niger Republic which stretches to Mali and which became porous as a result of the coup in Niger Republic to cross into parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states because the joint border operations with Nigerian security forces was experiencing gaps. Now we know exactly where they are.”
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