From Sokoto to Kebbi.. what to know about Lukarawas, Nigeria’s latest terrorist group
Photo Credit: Getty Images Photo Source: BBC
The emergence of a new terrorist group, known as Lukarawas, has sparked fresh security concerns across Nigeria’s northwestern states of Sokoto and Kebbi.
As confirmed by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) in an announcement on the 7th of November, the group is reportedly affiliated with ISIS and has entered Nigeria from Niger and Mali.
According to Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, the group exploited security gaps after a recent coup in Niger disrupted cooperative military efforts between Nigeria and Niger, allowing them to infiltrate the region. The infiltration by Lukarawas marks the first confirmed incursion by Sahelian jihadists into Nigeria.
How Lukawaras was received
Upon their arrival, Lukarawas militants were reportedly welcomed by local residents who saw them as strangers but did not immediately notify authorities, potentially unaware of their actual intentions, as they termed them to be harmless herders.
However, after settling in, the group quickly began imposing extremist ideologies, and once it had a foothold, imposed levies (zakat) on the community and forced families to marry off their daughters. Residents upon to realising the danger, began reported the group’s presence to local security forces.
Recent Attacks and Military Response
Barely a day after the DHQ’s announcement, Lukarawas struck Mera, a community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The attack left 15 people dead and over 100 cattle stolen.
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Following the incident, Acting Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede visited Sokoto’s 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, where he underscored the importance of community cooperation in safeguarding the region.
Gen. Oluyede’s message to local residents emphasised vigilance, urging them to report suspicious activity immediately to prevent groups like Lukarawas from gaining ground. He also ordered Nigerian troops to intensify their efforts to “crush” the group, an objective reiterated by the DHQ, which has launched operations to locate and dismantle Lukarawas footholds across Sokoto and Kebbi.
Military Challenges
According to Maj. Gen. Buba, the Lukarawas terrorists have capitalised on under-governed areas within the region to evade security forces. These vast, remote areas create ideal hiding spots, complicating troop efforts to locate and counteract them. However, Buba assured that Nigerian forces have ramped up intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations to track the group’s movements and activities.
Despite Lukarawas being a relatively new group in Nigeria, it has quickly joined the ranks of other terror organizations—often called “bandits” by the public—that destabilize the northwest. Known for targeting communities and travelers, these groups frequently engage in killings, kidnappings, and ransom demands, and Lukarawas appears to be following a similar pattern.
