In a recent video on Channels Television, researcher specializing in regional security issues from 5:15, Bulama Burkati, has revealed that an armed group, now known as Lakurawa, has intermittently used northwestern Nigeria as a temporary refuge since around 2016.
According to Burkati, the group has periodically crossed into Nigeria, staying for months before returning to the Sahel region, driven by pressures from the militaries of Niger and Mali.
Burkati also emphasized the need for continued vigilance, as this periodic movement into Nigeria reveals broader security concerns for the region and its porous borders.
According to him, “Yes, it’s not true because the group currently known as Lakurawa has been sporadically living or camping in the northwestern part of Nigeria for over six years. They first started illegally entering Nigeria around 2016 or 2017, but they did not stay permanently. What they do—and what they continue to do to this day—is move in, stay for a few months, then go back to the Sahel or wherever they come from in Niger.”
“From what I’ve gathered, it seems that this group faces sustained pressure from the Nigerien and Malian militaries, so whenever they are under intense military pressure, they temporarily move into northwestern Nigeria to regroup before returning to continue their fight in the Sahel. They’ve been doing this since at least 2017.”
“The Nigerian Army was aware of their presence. In 2018, communities reported concerns for their security because of this new, armed group whose members didn’t appear to be Nigerians. The police investigated, and in 2018, they held a press conference, reported by several Nigerian newspapers.”