We’ve forced Lakurawa terrorists back to Mali, says FG

We’ve forced Lakurawa terrorists back to Mali, says FG

The Federal Government has officially announced that Nigeria is now free of the Lakurawa terrorist group following a successful military operation that forced the group to retreat to Mali.

The declaration was made by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, during a press briefing in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Sunday.

Matawalle emphasized that the Lakurawa group, which originated in Mali, no longer poses a threat on Nigerian soil.

He commended the armed forces for their dedication and effectiveness in neutralizing the group’s activities, describing the campaign as a decisive victory for Nigeria’s security efforts.

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding national security and preventing the resurgence of any terrorist threats. He also urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies.

“I want to make it clear that we have no Lakurawa in any part of the country, not even in Zamfara or Kebbi State,” Matawalle stated.

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He credited the success to the Nigerian military’s robust offensive, which dismantled the group’s networks and denied them any foothold in Nigeria.

The Minister’s announcement counters recent reports by Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, who had linked the Lakurawa group to a series of explosive attacks in the region.

Matawalle dismissed the claims, asserting that any recent acts of violence were the work of unrelated criminal elements.

“The Lakurawa terrorists were never firmly established in Nigeria. Their presence here was temporary, and now they’ve been driven out completely,” he added.

The Lakurawa group first emerged in Sokoto State in 2016 as a militia aimed at combating banditry. However, it soon evolved into a radical sect, enforcing strict religious laws and recruiting youths through financial incentives.

Over the years, the group expanded its violent activities, carrying out deadly raids across northwestern Nigeria, including a notorious attack in November 2024 in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

 

We’ve forced Lakurawa terrorists back to Mali, says FG