By: Bayero Ade
The Federal Government has announced the complete defeat of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Nigeria, following a successful military campaign that forced the group to retreat back to Mali.
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made the declaration during a press briefing in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Sunday.
Matawalle confirmed that the Lakurawa group, which originated from Mali, no longer operates within Nigeria’s borders.
“There is no Lakurawa presence in any part of Nigeria, not even in Zamfara or Kebbi States,” Matawalle stated. He attributed the success to the military’s intense and coordinated operations, which dismantled the group’s infrastructure and expelled them from the country.
This announcement counters recent claims made by Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, who had connected the group to a series of explosive attacks in the region. Matawalle dismissed these claims, asserting that the violence was carried out by unrelated criminal elements.
“The Lakurawa terrorists never had a permanent presence in Nigeria. Their stay here was temporary, and they have now been entirely driven out,” he said.
The Lakurawa group emerged in Sokoto State in 2016, initially positioning itself as a militia fighting banditry. Over time, it evolved into a radical sect, imposing strict religious laws and attracting recruits with financial incentives.
The group’s violent activities spread across northwestern Nigeria, including a deadly raid in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State in November 2024, which left many dead and communities devastated.
With this announcement, the Federal Government reassured Nigerians of its ongoing commitment to national security and efforts to prevent the resurgence of such terror groups.
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