Nigeria’s acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, visited Sokoto’s 8th Army Division on Sunday to rally troops against Lukarawa, a newly identified terror group operating across Kebbi and Sokoto states. The Lukarawa faction, linked with jihadi movements from Mali and Niger, has alarmed Nigerian defence officials with its swift recruitment of local youths and its violent attempts to establish control in northern regions.
“Crush this group,” was Oluyede’s stark directive to soldiers gathered at the Masallaci community in Sokoto’s Tangaza district. Speaking on the critical need for civilian cooperation, he added, “The military can’t succeed alone. Community support is vital for national security and economic progress.”
This latest push against Lukarawa follows recent warnings from Defence Headquarters, which confirmed the group’s connection to regional conflicts destabilising Mali and Niger. Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, noted, “The group’s presence is a direct consequence of instability in our neighbouring nations, facilitating the spread of extremist elements into Nigeria’s northwestern corridor.”
Reports indicate Lukarawa’s presence in Sokoto predates official acknowledgment by several years, according to local sources who say the group initially positioned itself as protectors against bandits but have since imposed harsh religious laws and forced taxes, or zakat, on the local population.
Despite its claims of social reform, the group’s growing violence has spurred Nigerian authorities into action. Army sources confirm that Operation Fasan Yamma has mobilised across key areas, with troops positioned to dislodge Lukarawa cells in both Sokoto and Kebbi.
“Every inch of the northwest will be made safe,” assured a military officer from the 8th Division. “Troops are active in troubled regions to secure peace and remove Lukarawa influence from Nigerian soil.”
However, Lukarawa’s local recruitment efforts present a complex challenge. Residents report that group members offer as much as one million naira to young men as an enticement to join. They claim Lukarawa’s promise of social support has proved attractive to vulnerable youth, while its hardline religious agenda imposes strict societal rules on communities across Tangaza, Gudu, and surrounding regions.
The Nigerian Air Force has also joined the offensive, carrying out precision airstrikes against Lukarawa and affiliated bandit camps in Zamfara and Kebbi. Initial reports confirm that the strikes have damaged strongholds, weakening the organisation’s grip on the region.
