Firsthand Encounter Reveals Lakurawa's Brutal Methods
A local fixer working with GGA Nigeria experienced Lakurawa's oppressive rule firsthand during a visit to Magoho community in Tangaza local government area of Sokoto state. Two armed fighters approached him, questioning his identity in Arabic and testing his religious knowledge through rapid exchanges.
The situation escalated quickly when the fighter seized his phone, ordered him to unlock it, and condemned the music found as 'unholy.' Despite explanations that the phone was newly purchased, the fighter forced him to remove and destroy the memory card. The encounter turned violent when the fighter noticed cufflinks and accused the local companion of previously buying him fake pairs, resulting in immediate whipping and verbal abuse.
Religious Manipulation as Political Technology
Between October and November 2025, GGA Nigeria conducted extensive field missions across Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States, gathering crucial data about Lakurawa's operations. The group, reportedly an al-Qaeda offshoot, has established a violent system of control disguised as Sharia enforcement across northwest Nigeria.
Initially, many communities welcomed Lakurawa fighters who presented themselves as moral enforcers and protectors against bandits. They engaged in activities that appeared charitable - mediating disputes, offering small economic assistance, and destroying cigarettes and alcohol while compensating shop owners with amounts ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦100,000.
The group replaced local clerics they deemed insufficiently religious and enforced strict dress codes, encouraging beards and discouraging t-shirts and jeans. A resident of Sitti community in Tangaza local government area recalled: "When they first came to our village three months ago in July 2025, we received them with open arms because of how they presented themselves."
From Religious Enforcement to Predatory Control
Lakurawa's initial demands for zakat payment at ten percent quickly escalated into systematic confiscation of entire livestock herds. Resistance resulted in execution, kidnapping, or hostage-taking, with victims released only after ransom payments or surrendering their cattle.
The group's phone inspection regime became particularly oppressive. They routinely checked devices for 'unholy' content, destroying SIM and memory cards on the spot. Punishments varied by offense:
- Mohawk haircuts and music triggered beatings
- Hausa songs attracted 50 lashes per song
- Foreign or Afrobeat songs resulted in 100 lashes per song
One Sitti resident narrowly avoided severe punishment when fighters pleaded on his behalf after he had shown them kindness, reducing his sentence to 150 lashes total for multiple songs.
Expanding Threat with National Implications
Lakurawa currently maintains presence in at least 19 local government areas and 82 villages across Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States, with its strongest footprint in Kebbi. The group claims its sole objective is establishing Sharia as practiced by Sheikh Usman dan Fodio, but their actions reveal a strategy of predatory violence.
Farmers face severe agricultural disruption as Lakurawa fighters forcibly seize oxen, even while animals are actively ploughing fields. This practice has already undermined 2025 agricultural output and poses significant threats to food security in 2026, particularly in Kebbi State.
The group's capacity was demonstrated by the recent abduction of the Deputy Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, who regained freedom only after a ransom of N200 million was paid, partially in CFA francs.
Growing Crisis Demands Urgent Action
Residents now openly state that Lakurawa poses greater danger than the bandits they originally claimed to protect against. A Magoho resident explained: "When bandits attack, they only kidnap people and release them after ransom is paid. They have no business going through your phone, whipping you for having music or enforcing dress code."
The Nigerian government's failure to protect rural communities has created fertile ground for Lakurawa's expansion. Porous borders, absent security oversight in forested zones, and strained ECOWAS relations with the Alliance of Sahel States have further undermined cross-border cooperation with Niger Republic.
Unlike Boko Haram factions in the Northeast, Lakurawa has avoided major attacks that would draw national attention while steadily expanding its arsenal, raising revenue, and absorbing recruits - including former bandits and individuals from Mali. This silent consolidation creates conditions for dangerous escalation unless Nigeria takes urgent, active measures to address the growing threat.
