Report: Lakurawa luring Sokoto youths with financial incentives

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, says members of the new terrorist group Lakurawa are offering financial incentives to recruit youths in Sokoto.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) recently declared nine suspected members of the terrorist group wanted.

Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said the new group emerged from the Niger Republic following the coup which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and the country.

He said the terrorists began infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from Niger Republic and Mali.

According to Zagazola Makama, the new group is offering as much as N1 million to young men in exchange for their allegiance.

Makama, quoting sources, said the financial incentives are part of an aggressive recruitment campaign aimed at attracting followers to their cause.

“Unlike traditional criminal gangs, the Lakurawa are reported to adhere to extremist ideologies linked to the Khawarij sect, similar to the beliefs of Boko Haram,” the publication said.

“Local sources suggest that they employ a combination of financial incentives and ideological influence to gain support among vulnerable communities.

“Beyond the recruitment, the Lakurawa reportedly confront and expel bandits and confiscate their cattle in areas under their control.

“The Lakurawa extremists are yet to carry out any attack in the north-west.”