THE new terror group, Lukarawa, set up camps in 10 local government areas of Sokoto and Bauchi states before its operations became known to the public three weeks ago.
According to sources, members of the terror group initially established camps in some villages bordering Nigeria and Niger Republic, including Gwanaguano, Mulawa, Wassinya, and Turigaic communities.
They eventually infiltrated Nigeria and set up camps in different communities, especially in Gudu and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto in 2018.
Some leaders of the group, according to credible sources, include Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahaman (Idi), Dadi Gumba, Muhammed Abu, Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Walia, Ibrahim Suyaka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.
Our correspondents learnt that they use Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic languages in their preaching while they name their camp, Darul Islam.
A source said, “Their ages are between 18 and 50 years. They have been attacking villages in Gudu, Tangaza, Illela, and other local governments to collect taxes, though they did not kill anyone until the recent Mera attack.
“They will count the number of cattle in their custody and calculate the tax based on the percentage which they will take from the cattle,” a community leader in Tangaza LG said.
A researcher with the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Dr Murtala Rufa’i, told this newspaper that the group had been planning to establish its caliphate for over 25 years.
He said though members of the group had camps in different communities in about 10 LGAs in Sokoto and Kebbi states, they did not stay in a particular place as they were always on the move.
“They are always on the move using their motorcycles. You can see them today in Bachaka or Kangiwa and see them tomorrow at Bachaka Tambo and the next day at Bachaka in Gudu. This makes it very difficult for our security operatives to locate them unless their paths cross,” the don added.
He disclosed that the group had between 1,500 and 1,800 followers, including clerics and youths in the Tangaza and Gudu axis, the ancestral home of the Lukarawa leaders.
Rufa’i said the group was dislodged by combined security agents around 2020, but later regrouped in December 2023.
“Since then, Lukarawa’s activities have spread to about 10 local government areas which include Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Gwadabawa, Kware, Silame, Binji in Sokoto State and Augie and Kangiwa, Argungu, in Kebbi State,” he stated.
Lukarawa, according to the don, is a Malian-based group known in the Sahel as Jama’atu Muslimina with members cutting across different tribes and sects.
He identified the leader of the group as Ahmadu Kofa, whose ancestors were originally Nigerians from a community called Kofa under the old Kebbi empire.
Rufa’i said, “He is from Kofa. He has siblings like Ibrahim Kofa, Umar Kofa. They are presently in Mali, but their ancestors were Nigerians, from the Kebbi empire.
“Their parents and grandparents like Umar Kofa and Sa’idu Kofa had all acquired their religious knowledge in a place called Balle, the present headquarters of Gudu LGA of Sokoto.”
He noted that the group was luring locals with money, farm inputs, and pumping machines, adding that some of the people joined Lukarawa because of hunger.
Rufa’i described members of the group as criminals hiding under religion.
The don said some of the residents of the affected communities were afraid to report members of the Lukarawa because they threatened them.
“When they came back, they assembled the people of those areas and told them they were using drones to monitor them and their activities. They threatened to kill anyone who tried to report them. So, the locals are in perpetual fear. They don’t discuss their issue,” he stated.
Narrating his experience, a resident of Gongono in Tangaza LGA, who identified himself as Mainasara, confirmed the presence of Lukarawa in the area.
He said, “The Lukarawa people, a few days ago, abducted and killed one of our youths whom they accused of having a link with security operatives.”
However, the National Counter-Terrorism Centre has estimated that Lukarawa had about 150 fighters, describing the group as insignificant.
The Centre attributed the group’s current recruitment drive to efforts aimed at increasing their numbers.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the National Coordinator of the centre, Major General Adamu Laka, downplayed fears surrounding the group’s presence, stating that the threat was not as severe as perceived.
Laka assured Nigerians that, with ongoing counter-terrorism efforts, the Lukarawa group would soon be eliminated as a security concern.