The Federal Government has declared that the Lakurawa terrorist group has been completely eradicated from Nigerian soil following a successful military campaign that forced the group to retreat to Mali.
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made this announcement during a press briefing in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Sunday.
Speaking to journalists, Matawalle affirmed that the Lakurawa group, originally from Mali, no longer operates within Nigeria’s borders.
“We have no Lakurawa presence in any part of the country, not even in Zamfara or Kebbi State,” he stated, attributing the success to the military’s aggressive and well-coordinated operations that dismantled the group’s infrastructure and denied them any foothold in Nigeria.
The Minister’s statement directly challenges recent claims by Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, who had linked the group to a string of explosive attacks in the region.
Matawalle dismissed these allegations, insisting that any recent violence was perpetrated by unrelated criminal groups.
“The Lakurawa terrorists never had a firm establishment in Nigeria. Their presence here was temporary, and they have now been completely driven out,” Matawalle said.
The Lakurawa group first surfaced in Sokoto State in 2016, initially presenting itself as a militia aimed at combating banditry. Over time, however, it transformed into a radical sect, enforcing strict religious laws and luring young recruits with financial incentives.
The group’s activities expanded over the years, resulting in numerous violent attacks across northwestern Nigeria.
Notably, they carried out a deadly raid in November 2024 in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, leaving many dead and communities devastated.
With this latest announcement, the Federal Government reassured Nigerians of its commitment to maintaining national security and preventing the resurgence of groups like Lakurawa.