By Badamasi Bello, Jadetimes Staff
B. Bello is a Jadetimes news reporter covering African News
In early November, the Nigerian Defense Headquarters, DHQ, confirmed the emergence of a new faith-based terror group, codenamed Lakurawa. The group reportedly operates in the northwestern states of Sokoto and Kebbi and has extended its activities into Niger and Kaduna states in north-central Nigeria.
Insecurity, poverty, and armed banditry have for a long time plagued northwestern Nigeria. This fertile ground has given extremist groups like Lakurawa impetus to grow.
Military officials attribute this to instability that followed recent coups in the Sahel region: Niger in July 2023, Mali in 2020 and 2021, Guinea in September 2021, and Burkina Faso in 2022. All these Sahel countries are currently under military juntas and share borders and security concerns with Nigeria.
These developments notwithstanding, the Federal Government has tried to reassure residents of Sokoto and Kebbi states allaying fears about Lakurawa. The National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major-General Adamu Laka, told a press briefing in Abuja that the numerical strength of the group is inconsequential and that security forces are tackling the threat accordingly.
"They will soon be history," Major-General Laka assured.
Rising Menace: Highway Blasts
In a related incident, several people were feared dead as another explosion hit the Dansadau-Gusau road on Friday. It was the third attack within less than a week.
The blast occurred on Dansadau-Malele road when a truck carrying 100 bags of grains along with passengers ran over an Improvised Explosive Devise, IED planted by suspected members of Lakurawa.
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the devastation. "We are yet to confirm the exact number of casualties; we’re waiting for figures from Malele community,” the source said. The explosion happened around 8:30 a.m., just a few kilometers from Dansadau.
Troops responding to the incident found a second undetonated IED at the scene, which they safely defused.
The serial blasts have heightened the fears of commuters, who now view the highway as a death trap.
Only two days earlier, another blast had killed six people, increasing calls for immediate government intervention.
The police have attributed these incidents to the Lakurawa group, which has fast-tracked the need for sustained counter-terrorism efforts.
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