Nigeria, Chad, and Niger Unite in Joint Military Operation to Combat New Terror Group Lakurawa

Nigeria, Chad, and Niger have initiated a joint military offensive to combat the Lakurawa terrorist group, which poses a growing cross-border threat in the region.

The Lakurawa group, linked to Sahel-based militants from Mali and Niger, has escalated its criminal activities in northern Nigeria and neighboring countries, especially following the recent coup in Niger. Notably, the group was responsible for a deadly explosion in Zamfara State.

Known in the Sahel as Jama’atu Muslimina, the group is led by Ahmadu Kofa, whose ancestral roots trace back to the Kebbi Empire in Nigeria. For over 25 years, Lakurawa has been plotting the establishment of its caliphate, according to Dr. Murtala Rufa’i of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

The group’s activities include extorting taxes from villages and establishing camps in Sokoto and Bauchi states, with operations in 10 Local Government Areas. The Nigerian military officially acknowledged the sect’s emergence in November, signaling intensified efforts to curb its influence.

This coordinated offensive highlights the regional commitment to addressing the shared security challenge.