The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has warned of an impending military operation aimed at dismantling a newly-formed terrorist group, Lakurawa, which has reportedly set up administrative structures across communities in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
Ribadu said this yesterday in Abuja at the 2024 Conference of Comptrollers General (CGCs), themed “Nigeria Customs Service: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose.”
A new extremist group identified as “Lakurawa” emerged and is reportedly recruiting youths in Sokoto, Nigeria, by offering substantial financial incentives.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, the group is promising as much as one million naira to young men in exchange for their loyalty. This aggressive recruitment strategy marks an attempt to draw local support and establish a base of followers in the region.
Lakurawa is composed of members from various neighboring countries, including Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger, and Burkina Faso. This transnational makeup suggests that the group could be leveraging a network of militants and operatives with regional ties, broadening its influence and capabilities beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Unlike conventional criminal gangs, Lakurawa reportedly adheres to extremist ideologies linked to the Khawarij sect, a belief system also associated with Boko Haram. This ideological alignment underscores the group’s potential threat to security, as it signals an expansion of similar violent extremist doctrines that have previously destabilized parts of the region.
“Lakurawa is making a mistake. Nobody dares President Tinubu and wins. They are born at the wrong time. We will kick you out of Nigeria. This is Nigeria in 2024. Things are changing,” Ribadu said, noting the increased unity among Nigeria’s security agencies. “Right now, we have places where we have surrendered bandits. Tinubu gains. We now have all security arms working together. Nigeria will stabilise. Wait and see.”
According to Ribadu, the renewed cooperation among security agencies is already producing results, with Boko Haram militants reportedly fleeing to neighboring Chad.
“We will chase the so-called Lakurawa out of our country. Boko Haram are moving out today. They are moving to Chad. It will be over soon,” Ribadu affirmed.
Speaking at the event, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Ribadu, emphasized his administration’s commitment to creating a favorable business environment. He stated that Nigeria’s recent economic policies have attracted over $30 billion in foreign direct investments in the past year, reflecting international confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
Ribadu attributed this economic progress to Tinubu’s leadership since he took office on May 29, 2023. “Many people and investors now look forward to coming to Nigeria,” Ribadu said. “We are not jokers. Tinubu is a success. He has never been a failure. We won’t fail.”
The NSA also highlighted recent fiscal reforms, including increased crude oil production in the Niger Delta and stricter oversight at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“Crude oil production has hit 1.8 million barrels per day, and the Central Bank has been sanitised; no one is taking a dime from the CBN,” he said, adding that President Tinubu’s administration is committed to “fixing this country.”
In a nod to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ribadu noted the agency’s record-breaking revenue generation, which he described as a sign of the government’s positive impact on the Nigerian economy.
