LMinister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, declared on Sunday that the country has successfully eradicated the presence of the new terror group, Lakurawa, stating that the sect has been driven out of Nigeria.
He made this announcement while speaking to journalists at his residence in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State.
Matawalle rejected a recent claim by the Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, who had alleged that the Lakurawa group was behind the deadly explosive devices that claimed several lives in the state just weeks ago.
The Lakurawa group, which originated around 2016 or 2017 in Sokoto State as a self-defence militia invited by local leaders to combat growing banditry, gradually evolved into a radical faction.
This group began imposing strict religious laws and asserting control over local communities, later expanding their activities into Kebbi State.
Notably, they carried out a brutal operation in November 2024 in Mera village, Augie Local Government Area, which resulted in multiple deaths and cattle rustling.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters identified Lakurawa as a terrorist organization linked to extremist groups in Mali and Niger, contributing to the growing insecurity in the northwestern region.
The group has reportedly undermined local governance by usurping the authority of traditional rulers and enforcing its own set of rules.
It has also been known to recruit local youths by offering significant financial incentives, with promises of up to N1m to attract followers.
However, Matawalle refuted these claims, asserting, “I want to make it clear that we have no Lakurawa in any part of the country, not even in Zamfara or Kebbi State.”
He further clarified that the Lakurawa terrorists were from Mali and had been driven back to their home country by the Nigerian military.
“They were not even in Kebbi State as earlier reported by the media,” he added.
The defence minister praised the military for its decisive action against the bandits, which he said forced them to return to Mali.
He reiterated, “We have no Lakurawa in any part of the country.”
Matawalle also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts in combating terrorism and called on Nigerians to support the administration’s initiatives.
He highlighted ongoing projects, such as the construction of the Zaria-Sokoto Road and the Illela-Badagry Road, as part of the administration’s efforts to develop the region.
He also mentioned the lifting of the mining ban as another step towards the North’s progress.
Addressing criticism of the President, Matawalle remarked, “I don’t know why some people are criticising him and calling him anti-North. Forget about the negative propaganda of some people who are not wishing his administration well because of political differences.”
