A newly emerged terrorist group known as “Lakurawas,” or the Mujahidin, has reportedly taken significant control over five local government areas in Sokoto State, Nigeria.
Sources indicate that the group has begun collecting zakat and other levies from communities in the affected areas, which include Tangaza, Gada, Illela, Silame, and Binji.
Armed with heavy weaponry, the group known as “Lakurawas,” communicates in multiple languages, such as Hausa, Fulani, Tuareg, Kanuri, Tuba, and English. Residents report that the group arrives en masse on motorcycles, deploying some members to collect taxes while coercing locals to harvest crops and supply food.
Those who refuse payment risk having their livestock confiscated.
“We know they are coming because they arrive in large numbers, often on 10 to 15 motorcycles. After observing the environment and community, they will leave some members behind as they move to other towns,” a source revealed.
Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Alhaji Isa Salihu Kalenjeni, confirmed the group’s presence, stating, “They are forcing people to pay zakat, and at the same time robbing them of their belongings. Just recently, they robbed a shop owner of N2 million. They also seized his car and released it after he paid N350,000.”
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, warned that the Lakurawas group is affiliated with ISIS in the Sahel region and has been taking advantage of Nigeria’s porous borders with Niger and Mali. He urged citizens to report any suspicious activities, emphasizing:
READ ALSO: New Jihadist Group ‘Lakurawa’ Emerges in Sokoto, Imposes Islamic Laws, Taxes, Levies On Communities
“This is the same thing that happened when Boko Haram started. But this time, we are out for them from the onset. We are locating them and neutralizing them. The lesson to learn from this is if you see strange people, say something. Report to the authorities. Don’t just assume until it gets out of hand.”
Gen. Buba emphasized, “They exploited the vast borders from Niger Republic which stretches to Mali and which became porous as a result of the coup in Niger Republic to cross into parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states because the joint border operations with Nigerian security forces was experiencing gaps. Now we know exactly where they are.”
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