Zagazola Makama, a publication specializing in counter-insurgency news from the Lake Chad region, recently reported that the newly-formed Lakurawas terrorist group is actively recruiting youths in Sokoto by offering substantial financial incentives.
The group, which recently came into focus, has become known for its strategic attempts to attract local support and young followers through cash payments.
In a recent update, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) listed nine individuals suspected to be members of the Lakurawas on its most-wanted list. Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, revealed that this new terrorist faction reportedly emerged from the Niger Republic. The group’s formation is suspected to be connected to the recent political coup in Niger, which led to a breakdown of military cooperation between Nigeria and the neighboring country.
According to Buba, Lakurawas members began crossing into Nigeria’s northern borders from Niger Republic and Mali, with infiltration efforts now targeting remote regions of Sokoto and Kebbi states. The group has apparently enticed young men to join their ranks by offering financial rewards as high as N1 million in exchange for allegiance and participation in their activities.
Zagazola Makama, drawing on insider sources, describes the group’s recruitment as part of a broader, highly organized campaign aimed at rapidly building a loyal following. Unlike local criminal bands, Lakurawas adheres to a rigid extremist ideology rooted in the Khawarij sect—an offshoot with ideological similarities to Boko Haram.
Local sources indicate that Lakurawas uses a blend of financial rewards and ideological persuasion to appeal to vulnerable communities. In their occupied areas, reports suggest that the group not only recruits but also confronts and displaces bandit groups, seizing livestock as they consolidate control over the territory.
However, as of the latest reports, Lakurawas has not yet launched any violent attacks in Nigeria’s northwest. Their recruitment tactics, however, are raising concerns as authorities work to disrupt the group’s expansion into northern Nigeria.
