Who are the Lakurawas, Nigeria's new jihadist group? BBC Africa

The Nigerian army said that a new "terrorism" group had emerged in the northwestern state of Sokoto and western Kebbi state.

The Lakurawa (also Lakurawas) group, which has ties to Islamic State (IS) in the Sahel, reportedly emerged from neighbouring Niger and Mali where it charged levies and opposed democracy.

Nigerian army spokesperson Maj Gen Edward Buba said Lakurawas emerged after the coup in Niger in July 2023, which strained diplomatic relations and military cooperation between the two countries.

Sokoto police spokesperson Ahmed Rufai said the new group's fighters carry sophisticated weapons and are imposing "their own kind of religious practice on the people". He added that they are fighting local "bandits" and "claim to be working against illegalities".

The development is likely to worsen the security situation in Nigeria, especially in the northwest that has grappled with attacks by armed criminals referred to by local media as bandits.

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