Lakurawa: Intelligence Report Warns of the Mysterious Group in Nigeria
A United Nations intelligence report has warned about the threat posed by the mysterious “Lakurawa” group in Nigeria, which is believed to have links to the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS).
The intelligence assessment released on Sunday revealed that an attack carried out by militants belonging to the extremist group — previously targeted by U.S. airstrikes in December — resulted in the deaths of 20 people in northwestern Nigeria.
According to the confidential security report prepared by the United Nations and reviewed by Agence France-Presse (AFP), terrorist members of the little-known “Lakurawa” group attacked residents of the town of Fisken Rafi in the Arewa area of Kebbi State, near the border with Niger, where they “killed more than 20 victims.”
Local media reports indicated that the attack had taken place several days earlier, but information about it only emerged at the end of the week after the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State visited the affected area. No specific date was disclosed.
The attack occurred after a period of reduced violence attributed to “Lakurawa” in recent months, suggesting a possible resurgence of the group’s violent activities. The report noted that the operation may have been intended to demonstrate the group’s ability to conduct sophisticated attacks despite increasing military pressure.
The U.S. military carried out strikes in parts of northwestern Nigeria on December 25. At the time, the Nigerian government stated that the attacks targeted fighters affiliated with ISIS, the “Lakurawa” group, and various criminal gangs.
The exact number of casualties resulting from those strikes, as well as the identities of the groups involved, has not been disclosed.
Meanwhile, terrorist groups and criminal gangs engaged in kidnapping and cattle rustling — commonly referred to as “bandits” — have recently intensified attacks against farmers who refuse to pay illegal levies imposed in exchange for permission to cultivate their land in northern and central Nigeria.
The “Lakurawa” group remains active in border regions between Nigeria and Niger despite efforts aimed at expelling its members from Kebbi State.
The report warned that violence linked to “Lakurawa” could develop into a cross-border threat due to the multinational composition of its members, a factor that further complicates counterterrorism efforts.
Some researchers associate “Lakurawa” with the Islamic State network in the Sahel, which is particularly active in Mali and neighboring Niger, although other experts dispute this connection.
The escalation of terrorist activity in Nigeria, led primarily by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.
