The new  suspected extremist group, identified as “Lakurawa,” is offering as much as one million naira to young men in exchange for their allegiance.

Impeccable sources told Zagazola Makama that this group, allegedly composed of individuals from Mali, Chad, Libya, Niger, and Burkina Faso are  actively recruiting local youths in Sokoto through substantial financial incentives.

This financial lure, according to witnesses, is 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. 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’s in areas under their control.

The Lumarawa extremist are yet to carry out any attack in the North West.

“The emergence of the group is linked to political instability in Mali and Niger, which has fuelled the spread of extremist elements into Nigeria. He explained that this group is a direct fallout of the political instability in these neighbouring countries,” he said.

Speaking with newsmen in the Masallaci community in the Tangaza Local Government Area, Oluyede called on the residents of the community to always give accurate and timely information to the troops to help them in the fight against insecurity.

The acting Chief of Army Staff of Nigeria, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, visited the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto on Sunday as part of efforts to combat the new terror group, Lukarawa.

Olukoyede ordered the troops to crush the new terror group which was reportedly inducing youths in the state into its fold.

The Defence Headquarters had last week identified Lukarawa as a new terror group operating in Kebbi and Sokoto States.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the terror group is affiliated with jihadi factions in Mali and Niger, raising security concerns in the northwestern region of the country.