‘DSS, Police, and Army Aware of Lakurawa Group Since 2016; Not a New Terror Threat’

A security expert and member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) have disclosed that the Lakurawa terrorist group, active in parts of northern Nigeria, has been operating for several years.

Recently, the Defence Headquarters announced the emergence of the ‘Lakurawa’ group in the North-West. However, security expert Bulama Bukarti and ACF Publicity Secretary Tukur Muhammad-Baba clarified that Lakurawa has been known since at least 2016.

Bukarti stated on Channels Television that the group began entering Nigeria around 2016-2017, moving between Nigeria and the Sahel region. He noted that the Nigerian Army and police have been aware of their activities and engaged them as early as 2018, pushing them back to Niger.

Muhammad-Baba corroborated that the group was already known to the Department of State Services (DSS) by 2017-2018. He recounted an instance of a journalist’s discussion with the DSS, which suggested the group initially intended to leave after liquidating acquired cattle.