Emergence of Lakurawa Sect in North-west Should Not Be Underestimated

Afakriya Aduwa Gadzama

The emergence of the Lakurawa Sect should not take the government and security agencies in the country by surprise. This is because those keeping track of activities of various insurgents groups especially the Boko Haram, the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) and some informed individuals have severally warned that such splinter groups and more radical and violent ones will likely emerge in the wake of the decimating of the Boko Haram and the Islamic States West African Province (ISWAP).

Several security analysts have also warned that the emergence of groups associated with these groups among which is the Lakurawa are in the Sahel. The country for several reasons is a favoured destination for the groups. Areas where these groups could emerge are places believed to be strongholds of fundamentalist groups and bandits whose motives are opposing the country’s secularity.

Areas that have been fertile breeding grounds to unguided militancy as predisposing factors are also places where there are abject poverty, misrule and, visible disconnect between the government and the ordinary citizens. 

Another important fact that cannot be discountenanced among reasons for the surfacing of the group in the country is its suspected links with terrorist groups in the Sahel and the sub-region. The group’s link with terrorist groups in the Sahel and the sub-region provides it with resources it needs and the external support to pursue its objectives. 

This piece is written so that the Government and security agencies in the country do not repeat the mistakes of the past. The revelations on the existence of the Sect in the North West most of us believe has given the Government and other stakeholders more than enough notice despite the lack of detailed information on its sponsors, its strength and extent of its penetration in parts of the country. This is not to say that the security agencies, particularly the DSS, the Military, and the Police do not have actionable information on the group’s presence in the country. Most security agencies will recall that despite the intelligence provided by the DSS and sister agencies at the time the Group started its violent campaign, the government then didn’t treat the threats with expected seriousness.

These are what should be avoided in the case of the Lakurawa. The actions despite the limited intelligence should not be politicized. The whipping of parochial sentiments should not be allowed to take place. The security agencies as presently demonstrated by the military should be mobilised to rout the group out of the North West. 

Despite limited intelligence on the group’s presence and activities at the moment, there is more than enough information that could be used in furtherance of desirable security action against the group at the moment. The possibility of its sleeper cells in Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina States should not also be ruled out. In a situation like this, there should in addition be more than casual surveillance in neighbouring States such as Kogi, the FCT and Kano States.

Also, the belief that the Sect could have spilled over from neighbouring Niger Republic should be critically examined. Deserving of serious action are also States in the North East geopolitical zone. Areas on the Lake Chad Basin shores and those bordering Cameroon Republic, especially Gwoza,

Dambo and Askira Uba Local Government Areas where the group is suspected to be hibernating should be placed under close watch. Other areas deserving sustained surveillance and close monitoring are areas in Northern Borno especially those around the insurgence infested enclaves that are still battling with Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents. Areas in Adamawa State especially those among Madagali and Mubi axis and by extension the Michika and Mubi axis bordering Cameroon equally requires close monitoring.

There are also at the moment reasons to suspect that the country’s porous and weak monitoring capabilities of Para-military and security agencies at the borders might have contributed to the group’s ability to infiltrate the country. The group might have used not only the porous borders with Niger Republic but borders with all the neighbouring countries.  Some of us recall that the former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua was comprehensively briefed on the country’s vulnerability that could be exploited by criminal and terrorists on account of the weak border controls at the border. The DSS then provided and made a case for the creation of a Border Security Agency to secure the country against acts of sabotage and related criminality. The former President was favourably disposed to the idea and shared the idea with key facilitators in the Presidency and National Assembly to consider the setting up of the Border Security Agency. The idea unfortunately could not be materialized when the then President was taken sick. The idea also could not take off due to objections from some vested interests. We believe that given the branches as the result of weakness at the borders in the country’s borders, revisiting the idea could be useful. Setting up of border security Agency as proposed then could be a major security step that could help to interdict insurgents, dangerous persons and interception of dangerous drugs and materials at the borders. Such an Agency could also help interdict acts of economic sabotage being committed at the borders.

It will also be recalled that the DSS had previously advised that strengthening of the Multilateral Joint Task Forces is an issue that should be revisited and strengthened. The fact should also be appreciated that the country’s neighbors especially Cameroon, Chad, and Niger Republic have been struggling with activities by many insurgent groups in recent years. The other area we have previously advised on is, accepting assistance from the United States, United Kingdom and France in dealing with insurgence, and possible terrorists acts.

This is in addition to minimizing acts of economic sabotage in the country. Relatedly, the Country should take a cue from the USA President-elect Mr. Donald Trump following his victory at the last elections when he nominated someone with the track record and pedigree to handle the country’s immigration and other border-related issues. The President’s nominee is also being elevated to a cabinet rank.

The Lakurawa Group based on available intelligence is a very deadly entity. The Group will definitely follow the footsteps of the Boko Haram and ISWAP groups with whom it shares their ideological views with, and could be related to them. It is important to note that parts of the country the group is known to have infiltrated are those previously ravaged by the Islamic States and Boko Haram. The threats constituted by the group should therefore be swiftly dealt with. It is important to note that the resources required to eliminating the insurgency in the Northern States, in terms of support to the security agencies especially the cost of supporting the desired operations is quite enormous. Similarly, the State Governments where the group is confirmed to be present will need to be assisted to save the country from the enormous burdens of dealing with an entrenched threat constituted by the group, and the need to take care of the citizens should be vital components of any action to be deployed to eliminate this undoubtedly dangerous group.    

Gadzama is the Chairman, National Institute for Security Studies