Timbuktu Institute - November 2024

The Nigerian army, through its Chief of Staff, General Oluyede, has declared that it is facing a new armed movement called Lukurawa. The movement, which has its roots in the north-west of the country and is described as “highly equipped”, has already carried out incursions into the states of Sokoto and Kebbi, bordering neighboring Niger. In fact, as part of the strategy to combat this group, the Army Chief of Staff this week visited the localities of Illela and Tangaza, border towns with Niger, from which the new group has been operating for some time.

The Lakurawa group is described as a terrorist organization that reported in the local governments of Gudu and Tangaza in Sokoto from across the border in the Republic of Niger around October 2018, with around 200 jihadists. With, for the time being total vagueness over the leadership of the movement, they are believed to be affiliated to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) although there is no explicit claim. After much cross-checking, the Lakurawa group's name is probably a Hausa adaptation of the French word for “recruits”, according to some north-westerners.

 Ideological background?

According to the perception of Muslim communities in northern Nigeria, Lukurawa adheres to extremist ideologies akin to the “Khawârij”, expressing the idea of dissidence from the politico-religious order. Ideologically, this perception refers to the revolts and dissidences following the battle of Siffîn (657 AD), when a sort of “third way” emerged, giving rise to a sect that subsequently claimed to be neither mainstream Sunnism nor Shi'ism. Care should be taken with this “Khawârij” label, which is also sometimes subjectively applied to any movement opposing the dominant political order in various countries.

Indeed, six years ago, the inhabitants of certain regions of Sokoto State raised concerns about the suspicious activities of a group of herdsmen from Mali and Niger, who were operating in the surrounding forests. Lakurawa is said to be affiliated with jihadists in the Sahel, with some media reporting a link between the group and the Islamic State (Daesh), and some analysts suggesting, without evidence, ramifications as far afield as Mali.

Recruitment and anchoring strategy

A persistent controversy has arisen over the possibilities of anchoring or even connivance between Lukurawa's elements and local populations, in a context of suspicion over the role of local governments and certain communities in the North-West. Testimonies point to the systematic use of local languages in preaching. In addition, the group is beginning to impose rules and taxes on the communities under their influence, under the pretext of providing protection services to these populations in the fight against other armed or terrorist groups operating in the territory. The first elements of Lakurawa identified by sources numbered less than 50 members.

The group currently numbers between 200 and 300 members, men aged between 18 and 35 from Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger and Burkina Faso. The group has also launched a local recruitment process among young people in the Sokoto region, using financial incentives of up to 1 million Naira to attract them, in addition to ideological influence.

First assaults reported

On November 8, 2024, Lakurawa launched its first assault in Kebbi state, north-west Nigeria, in the Augie government zone, against civilian populations in an attempt to seize their cattle. The population seems to have resisted, leading to clashes in which several people were killed. These clashes between Lakurawa and members of the local community resulted in at least 15 deaths, with casualties among the ranks of the jihadist entity.

Sign of the failure of the fight against terrorist groups?

The emergence and development of this new group highlights the deficits in security management in Nigeria, as well as the responses of government and partners in the fight against violent extremism, particularly in rural and border areas. They also highlight local populations' loss of confidence in the State's ability to protect their lives and property. Among security experts and even within the army, a heated debate is already being raised about the fact that a movement can have been operating for at least six years in this part of Nigeria without its abuses being duly combated or publicized. This debate is taking place at a time when the finger is being pointed at local governments, as well as at the denounced “failings” of the intelligence services.