Nigeria, Chad, and Niger have initiated a coordinated military operation to combat the Lakurawa terrorist group, which has escalated its activities in the region.
The three nations have begun joint patrols aimed at curbing cross-border threats posed by the group, which has been linked to violent crimes in northern Nigeria and neighboring countries.
Affiliated with terrorist factions in the Sahel, particularly in Mali and Niger Republic, the Lakurawa group intensified its operations following the recent coup in Niger. The group has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks, including a recent explosion in Zamfara State.
Known in the Sahel as Jama’atu Muslimina, the Mali-based group is led by Ahmadu Kofa, who has ancestral ties to Nigeria, specifically the Kebbi Empire. According to Dr. Murtala Rufa’i, a researcher at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, the group has been plotting to establish its caliphate for over 25 years.
The group’s activities include taxing local communities and establishing camps in 10 Local Government Areas across Sokoto and Bauchi states. Their operations, however, only recently came to public attention.
In November, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters officially announced the emergence of the Lakurawa sect, which it confirmed is primarily active in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
The joint offensive underscores a renewed commitment by Nigeria and its regional partners to combat terrorism and restore security in the affected areas.
