- Lakurawa, a terrorist group, is quickly emerging as a significant security threat in northern Nigeria
- Bulama Bukarti, a senior fellow at the Tony Blair Institute, warned of the growing threat and ideological ties of Lakurawa
- TheRadar compiled other terrorist groups that have surfaced in the country below
A rising terrorist group known as Lakurawa is quickly becoming a significant security threat in northern Nigeria, according to experts.
Bulama Bukarti, a human rights lawyer and senior fellow at the Extremism Policy Unit of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, raised concerns about the group’s activities during a Monday, November 11 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Bukarti warns of Lakurawa using drones to monitor civilian
Bukarti revealed that Lakurawa militants have been closely monitoring both civilian communities and military installations in the North-West region. In addition to their advanced weaponry, the group has been utilising drones for surveillance, further complicating the security situation.
He said, “Not only do they have heavy weapons, but they also have drones and are surveilling villages and military formations with them. I think we should take the security threat in a region already divided by bandit violence very seriously.
“Their ideology is not different from that of Boko Haram, except that they present themselves more like police because they claim not to want to kill the people. They say they are only fighting the government and its apparatus. This espouses an extreme, violent extremist ideology.
“But the good news is that my research so far has revealed that they have not been accepted by the communities. I have not found an example of local young people joining them. They are still foreigners. But they are large in number based on the information I am getting,” Bukarti stated.
List of other terrorist groups in Nigeria
The growing presence of the Lakurawa adds to the already complex security situation in Nigeria, especially in the northern regions, where insurgencies continue to escalate.
TheRadar compiled other terrorist groups that have surfaced in the country below:
1. Boko Haram
Boko Haram, one of the most notorious and long-standing terrorist groups in Nigeria has been active since 2009. The terrorist group has carried out numerous attacks on civilians, military personnel, and government institutions, including suicide bombings, and abductions, notably the kidnapping of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014.
2. Fulani Militants
The Fulani militant groups are primarily involved in violent clashes with local farmers and other ethnic groups, especially in Nigeria's Middle Belt and northern regions. While some Fulani militants claimed to be fighting for the protection of their pastoral lifestyle, others have been linked to terrorist activities, including kidnapping, cattle rustling, and attacks on villages.
3. Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP)
ISWAP's brutal attacks and use of terror tactics have led to significant displacement of civilians and extensive loss of life. The terrorist group pledged allegiance to ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in 2015 and has been particularly active in the Lake Chad Basin and the northeastern regions of Nigeria.
ISWAP has a more sophisticated organisational structure and has been involved in high-profile attacks on military bases, ambushes, and the use of advanced weaponry.
4. Ansaru
Ansaru is a terrorist group that splintered from Boko Haram in 2012. The group has been involved in kidnappings for ransom, targeted killings, and attacks on foreign nationals, including aid workers and expatriates.
Although less active than Boko Haram or ISWAP, Ansaru's presence remains a concern for Nigeria’s security forces.
Military deploys troops to protect farmers in the North, as banditry, terrorism rise
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that farmers had suffered severe attacks from bandits and terrorists, who have indiscriminately destroyed their harvests and harmed them.
The Defence Headquarters announced the deployment of troops to farms throughout the northern regions of the country, with a particular focus on the North West and North Central areas to secure farmers from bandits, terrorists, and other forms of criminal activity.