A new extremist group known as “Lakurawa” has begun offering financial incentives to recruit young people in Sokoto State, raising concerns among local communities and authorities.
A security expert, Zagazola Makama, shed light on the activities of the group through a post on X.com on Saturday.
According to him this group is offering as much as one million naira to young men willing to join their ranks.
Local sources disclosed that the Lakurawa group is composed of individuals from neighboring countries, including Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
The group is reportedly using money to lure young men from economically struggling areas in Sokoto, promising cash rewards in exchange for their allegiance.
The financial incentives offered by Lakurawa are said to be part of a larger recruitment strategy aimed at attracting followers to their extremist cause.
Unlike typical bandit groups, the Lakurawa are reportedly influenced by ideologies linked to the Khawarij sect, an extremist belief system with similarities to the radical teachings of Boko Haram.
He wrotes, “The new suspected extremist group, identified as “Lakurawa,” is offering as much as one million naira to young men in exchange for their allegiance.
“Impeccable sources told Zagazola Makama that this group, allegedly composed of individuals from Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger, and Burkina Faso are actively recruiting local youths in Sokoto through substantial financial incentives.
This financial lure, according to witnesses, is part of an aggressive recruitment campaign aimed at attracting followers to their cause. “
Witnesses say that the Lakurawa group operates differently from other criminal groups.
In addition to recruiting young men, they have been known to confront and expel bandits from areas under their control.
It has also been reported that they confiscate cattle from these bandits, claiming to offer protection to the communities where they hold power.
Despite their recruitment efforts, the Lakurawa group has not carried out any known attacks in the North West region.
The group’s presence, however, is unsettling for locals, who fear that their influence may grow, potentially bringing further instability to Sokoto and surrounding areas.
The emergence of Lakurawa reflects a troubling trend where extremist groups employ both financial and ideological means to attract vulnerable individuals, especially in areas plagued by poverty and limited opportunities.
The North West region has long been troubled by banditry and insecurity, with various criminal groups terrorizing communities, stealing livestock, and displacing families.
Lakurawa’s strategy appears to set them apart, as they are not only recruiting but also challenging existing criminal elements in the region.
One security analyst explained, “Their approach is calculated. By targeting the youth and confronting bandits, they gain credibility and followers in communities tired of living in fear.”
