Opinion
Lakurawa Terrorists’ Threat Amid Information Mismanagement
By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi
The emergence of the “Lakurawa” terror group in Northwestern Nigeria has added a new layer to the country’s complex security challenges, as these militants strengthen their foothold across communities in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
The recent disclosure by the Defence and Force Headquarters, which “formally” recognized Lakurawa as a terror organization, not only introduced the group to many Nigerians but also highlighted the potential dangers of mishandling information about such threats.
It is against this background that the Center for Crisis Communication (CCC) tasked the security agencies to handle the issue of Lakurawa with utmost caution and professionalism while at the same time, urged the media and public to avoid sensationalizing the matter.
The Chairman of the center, Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd), in a statement issued after CCC’s monthly meeting, Olukolade said the situation required swift and strategic action to prevent an escalation into a nationwide crisis with severe implications
Meanwhile, until now, Lakurawa had operated largely unnoticed, yet their growing influence signals a troubling shift in Nigeria’s already embattled security landscape. Reports trace the Lakurawa group’s origins back to October 2018, when they reportedly settled in the forests around Tangaza and Gudu Local Government Areas in Sokoto State.
When locals first raised concerns about their incursion, police investigations categorized them as armed but non-threatening seasonal herders seeking food and water for their livestock. This early dismissal allowed the group to operate under the radar, gradually embedding themselves within local communities.
The manner in which security agencies, media outlets, and social platforms have handled information on this new terror group highlights a significant issue that needs critical analysis. Sensationalized coverage is indeed giving the Lakurawa group visibility, emboldening them to further terrorize their host communities.
Once considered mere herders, the Lakurawa group has escalated its activities, imposing taxes, preaching extremist ideologies, and assuming roles usually reserved for traditional rulers, such as mediation and arbitration..Surprisingly, within just days after the Nigerian military officially labeled them as terrorists, the Lakurawa sect initiated violent attacks in Kebbi State.
On Friday, November 8th, the group reportedly killed 15 people and rustled over 100 cows in Mera town, Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State. According to Alhaji Bashir Isah Mera, a resident, “Initially, they didn’t kill; they only confiscated cows and asked owners to pay ‘Zakat’. This is their first attack in which they killed 15 people in our town.”
Was it merely a coincidence that the group became more violent soon after achieving widespread media coverage? It is possible they are using this newfound visibility to instill fear in communities and signal their presence as players in Nigeria’s complex security challenges. As they gain recognition, their actions and influence appear to intensify.
Reports reveal that their first significant attack was on a military base in Sokoto, where they killed three soldiers and set a patrol vehicle ablaze. Initially, their targets were government forces, vigilantes, and rival armed groups (i.e., bandits), but recent developments indicate that unarmed civilians are also now victims of their atrocities. It is hard to believe that the Lakurawa group once received invitations from local authorities, including the District Heads of Balle in Gudu LGA and Gongono in Tangaza LGA, both in Sokoto, to protect their communities against other bandits.
This connection suggests that some local leaders may have inadvertently enabled the group’s rise by legitimizing its presence. These complex dynamics underline the challenges in Nigeria’s security landscape, where communities, desperate for protection, sometimes turn to dangerous actors in the absence of adequate state intervention.
In today’s interconnected world, fueled by rapid information sharing, the way media reports on terror groups critically shapes the public’s perception and response. Sensationalized coverage of groups like Lakurawa inadvertently provides them with the visibility they seek, potentially encouraging further attacks. Publicizing details about the group’s activities can become an “oxygen of publicity” that these terrorists use to maintain a fearsome reputation.
A paradigm shift is necessary. Security agencies must recognize the importance of handling sensitive information with discretion. Rather than publicly announcing the existence of groups like Lakurawa, there should be a careful, strategic approach to limit their exposure. If handled quietly and without fanfare, it may prevent these groups from gaining the visibility they currently enjoy.
For the sake of national interest and security, some information is best kept confidential to protect citizens and prevent unnecessary panic or sensationalism. Publicizing every detail can inadvertently play into the hands of criminals who capitalize on fear and citizens’ low morale to perpetrate further violence. Moving forward, Nigeria’s security agencies should develop robust crisis communication strategies.
Such strategies should aim to balance transparency with responsibility, sharing information only when necessary and in ways that do not strengthen criminal elements. By avoiding public fanfare, security agencies can effectively carry out their constitutional duties without giving terrorists an undue advantage.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s media, along with its security forces, must adopt a more thoughtful and measured approach to crisis communication. This approach will prevent terrorist groups like the Lakurawas from gaining power and notoriety, ultimately fostering a safer environment for Nigerian citizens.
The Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Police, and other security institutions must work collaboratively with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to address emerging threats to Nigeria’s security.
The sooner this crisis is nipped in the bud, the better. As they say, a stitch in time saves nine!
Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi is a research student at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the author of National Security Strategies: A Young Writer’s Perspective. He writes on issues related to security and governance from Kano and can be reached at: ymukhtar944@gmail.com
By Oluwatosin Faleye
The heart of man is truly full of wickedness and nowhere is this clearer than in the recent avoidable tragedy that claimed the lives of 21 young athletes from Kano State.
These were vibrant, determined youths who proudly represented their state at the 2024 National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
On their journey home, after enduring countless challenges to prepare and compete with pride, they died in a horrific accident when their bus plunged off Chiromawa Bridge on the Kano-Zaria Expressway.
*Lives Wasted by Negligence, Not Fate
How could this have happened? How can athletes representing an entire state be subjected to a dangerous 16-hour road trip across 1,028 km, rather than being airlifted like dignitaries, VIPs, or religious pilgrims?
*Where is the value for life.Where is the priority for the future?
A government that fails to protect, yet finds billions for pilgrimages.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf approved a ₦1.45 billion subsidy for 2,900 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia—₦500,000 each for a religious exercise.
Yet, the same government could not allocate funds to ensure the safe return of the youth representing the state in a national sporting competition.
To add insult to irreversible injury, the government announced a ₦1 million compensation for each bereaved family. But the question is, can ₦1 million replace a life cut short?
Can ₦1 million restore the lost future of a potential Olympic champion?
Would this tragedy have occurred if leadership had put safety over ceremony?
*Critical Questions That Must Be Answered
Would the Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Umar Bala Fagge, make that same dangerous road trip in that same bus?
Was the bus roadworthy?
Was it newly acquired or an overused death trap?
How many trained drivers were assigned to such a long, high-risk journey?
*Was there any emergency response plan in place?*
These are not rhetorical questions—they are demands. Because young lives have been lost, not to an act of God, but to poor planning, negligence, and a lack of foresight.
…No Public Holiday Can Wipe Away This Shame
Declaring a public holiday is not leadership. Leadership is prevention. Leadership is prioritizing life. Leadership is accountability. Had the state government taken these athletes seriously—as it does pilgrims or politicians—this may never have happened.
Enough of the Lip Service—We Demand Accountability
The youth are not expendable. The glory they sought to bring to Kano has now turned into grief. The government must do more than issue condolences—it must answer, act, and prevent.
This is not just a tragedy for Kano. This is a tragedy for Nigeria.
Your Excellency,
Governor Seyi Abiodun Makinde,
Governor of Oyo State, Nigeria.
Dear Governor Makinde,
I write to you not out of political bias or personal grievance, but as a concerned citizen, a voter, and a stakeholder in the future of Oyo State. This letter is not to attack but to appeal. It is a call to action, driven by a deep sense of urgency and a sincere desire to see our state live up to its full potential—starting with the health of its people.
Sir, it is no secret that our healthcare system is in crisis. From Ibadan to the smallest towns and villages across the state, state-owned hospitals and clinics are falling apart. Many are under-equipped, understaffed, and in some cases, completely non-functional. If Ibadan, the capital city, is struggling with basic medical services, we can only imagine the situation in remote areas.
Our people are suffering. Pregnant women are left without proper care. Children die from preventable illnesses. Patients are turned away due to lack of drugs, equipment, or medical personnel. And yet, there appears to be silence from the leadership entrusted to fix these problems.
Governor Makinde, you are often referred to as a “people’s governor,” but true leadership is measured not in titles, but in impact. The healthcare system in Oyo State has not improved in any tangible way under your administration. In fact, it seems to have worsened. This is deeply disappointing.
It is even more troubling that the current Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, appears to be absent in this crisis. Primary healthcare centers remain severely understaffed. The maternal mortality rate is still unacceptably high. Quack practitioners operate freely. Promises of upgrades and reforms have yielded little to no real change. The people are still waiting.
Sir, this is a matter of life and death. Oyo State’s population should be a blessing, not a burden on a broken system. Yet, our hospitals remain shadows of what they should be. Good healthcare is not a luxury. It is a basic right. And it is the responsibility of any government that claims to serve the people.
As we look toward future elections, I urge you to reflect on the legacy you will leave behind. Will you be remembered as the leader who built stadiums while hospitals decayed? Or as the governor who took bold action when it mattered most?
Governor Makinde, I humbly ask you to prioritize the health of the people over politics and publicity. Restore our healthcare system. Equip our hospitals. Hire more qualified medical personnel. Hold your health ministry accountable.
Oyo State deserves better.
We, the people, deserve better.
Yours sincerely,
Faleye Oluwatosin Simon
Concerned Citizen & Advocate for Good Governance
Nigeria
The jailbreak at the Koton Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kogi State on Monday, March 24, 2025, has once again highlighted the security challenges facing Nigeria’s correctional facilities.
The incident, which resulted in the escape of 12 inmates after tampering with padlocks in a section of the facility, also led to the death of a correctional officer. This marks the sixth jailbreak at Koton Karfe since 2012, with a similar incident in 2016 seeing 13 inmates escape, none of whom have been rearrested.
Security experts have repeatedly pointed to infrastructure deficits, overcrowding, prolonged trials, and poor remuneration of correctional staff as major factors contributing to frequent prison breaks.
As of March 25, 2025, statistics from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) indicate that 79,669 inmates are housed in the country’s custodial centres. Of these, 26,898 are convicted prisoners, while 52,771—amounting to 66%—are awaiting trial. The Koton Karfe facility, built in 1934 and re-commissioned in 2015 with a capacity for 320 inmates, faces severe overcrowding, compounding security risks.
The delays in Nigeria’s judicial process have led to an overwhelming number of awaiting trial inmates, increasing pressure on correctional centres and contributing to recurring jailbreaks. Experts argue that tackling prison congestion is key to addressing security breaches.
Calls have grown for the Federal Government to enhance security measures in correctional facilities. Suggestions include increased investment in surveillance cameras, alarm systems, and additional security personnel. The recent deployment of five Bullet Resistant Guard-Booth vehicles to select custodial centres in Abuja, Kuje, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Lagos is a step in the right direction. However, security analysts advocate extending such measures to vulnerable facilities like Koton Karfe.
The NCS has ordered a comprehensive audit of the facility to identify and address security lapses. Transparency in the findings and accountability for any lapses will be crucial in restoring public confidence.
Additionally, state governments and private sector stakeholders have been urged to support prison upgrades to strengthen the overall security of correctional centres and, by extension, the safety of the larger community.
