Residents of Sokoto State have been thrown into a state of tension following the emergence of a new terrorist group known as Lakurawas, News About Nigeria reports.
The Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Alhaji Isa Salihu Kalenjeni, confirmed the group’s presence, revealing that the group, also known as Mujahidin, has gained significant control in five local government areas of the state.
The affected local governments are Tangaza, Gada, Illela, Silame, and Binji.
He lamented that the group has not only resorted to terrorizing communities but has also begun collecting zakat and other levies from them.
Speaking on their operations, Isa explained that the terrorist group often arrives in large numbers on motorcycles, leaving some members behind to collect taxes and coerce residents to harvest crops and provide foodstuff. Those who refuse to pay face having their animals confiscated.
“We know they are coming because they arrive in large numbers, often on 10 to 15 motorcycles. After observing the environment and community, they leave some members behind as they move to other towns.
“They are forcing people to pay zakat while robbing them of their belongings. Just recently, they robbed a shop owner of N2 million. They also seized his car and released it only after he paid N350,000,” he stated.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major Gen Edward Buba, warned that the Lakurawas are affiliated with ISIS in the Sahelian region, adding that they exploited Nigeria’s porous borders with Niger and Mali.
He urged residents of the state to report suspicious activities, assuring them that the Defence Headquarters had started locating and neutralizing the terrorists.
“This is the same thing that happened when Boko Haram started. But this time, we are out for them from the onset. We are locating them and neutralizing them. The lesson to learn from this is if you see strange people, say something. Report to the authorities. Don’t just assume until it gets out of hand,” he stated.
