Alhaji Isa Salihu Kalenjeni, Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State, has claimed that a foreign armed religious group known as Lakurawa, which has occupied Tsauni forest across five LGAs “offering youths N1 million for membership” and increasingly getting more brazen in their attacks.
He said, “They are forcing people to pay Zakkat and robbing people of their belongings.”
Lakurawa was said to have migrated from Libya, Mali, and Niger Republic and camped at Tsauni forest, which stretches up to the Niger Republic.
Recently, the group launched a deadly attack, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers on patrol. Kalenjeni reported incidents where “they robbed a shop owner of N2 million” and seized his car. He described their operations, saying, “They usually come to our communities during the day and go back to the forest at night,” and noted that “they also have drones which they use in monitoring the movement of security operatives.”
Deputy Governor Engr Idris Gobir confirmed the gravity of the situation, stating that “the group possesses sophisticated weapons” and confirmed that their criminal activities span five LGAs.
However, he assured that “security authorities are working assiduously to address the emerging threat” and emphasized collaboration with federal security agencies to ensure residents’ safety.
The North West has been an intractable epi-center of Islamic extremism, starting from the Maitatsine Militia of the 1980s to ISWAP elements, among others.
Comment, Like 👍, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
