EXCLUSIVE(SAHARA REPORTERS): Lakurawa Fighters Deliver Extremist Sermons, Threaten Niger State Residents with Attacks

Members of the notorious Lakurawa terrorist group recently infiltrated several communities within Niger State's Borgu Local Government Area on a Sunday. They openly propagated their extremist ideology and issued stern warnings to residents, threatening violent repercussions if their teachings were rejected, according to information obtained by SaharaReporters.

Local sources informed SaharaReporters that dozens of these armed militants arrived in the affected settlements around 4pm, riding motorcycles and brandishing sophisticated weaponry. They moved unhindered from one village to another. Residents reported that the terrorists initially approached key community leaders and traditional figures, where they delivered their sermons and explicitly stated that any community refusing their doctrine would face dire consequences.

"The terrorists arrived in significant numbers on motorcycles, heavily armed, and moved with confidence across various villages," a resident recounted to SaharaReporters. "They gathered some community leaders and instructed them to embrace their ideology, warning that non-cooperating communities would be targeted for attack."

The communities identified as being impacted by this incursion include Zugurma, Kulho, Soba, and Adogon Malam, all situated within the Borgu axis of Niger State. Residents voiced serious apprehension over the fact that the terrorists operated openly for more than two hours without any intervention from security agencies, despite repeated alerts sent to the authorities.

Multiple sources indicated that the armed men publicly displayed their weapons in marketplaces and other crowded areas, where thousands of residents reportedly gathered around them. "They openly carried guns and moved freely in public spaces, even visiting markets where people witnessed their presence. Some residents even cheered them as if they were celebrities, as no one dared to challenge them," another source revealed.

Community members further alleged that police officers stationed in nearby communities deserted their posts upon receiving intelligence about the terrorists' presence. "The police were immediately notified, but they abandoned their positions and sought refuge, fearing that the terrorists would attack them if they remained," a source stated. "For over two hours, these terrorists maintained control of the area without encountering any resistance."

Residents reported that this incident has intensified fears across rural communities in Niger State, especially given the increasing movement and presence of Lakurawa fighters in villages bordering Niger and Kebbi states. This latest development adds to growing concerns about the group's activities, which locals say often involve entering vulnerable communities under the guise of religious preaching before establishing influence and recruiting followers.

Several residents who spoke with SaharaReporters expressed that the threats issued by the terrorists have caused widespread panic among villagers, many of whom dread a repeat of previous deadly attacks attributed to the group. "They threatened that if people did not heed their words, they would return and launch attacks. People are terrified because we have witnessed what transpired in other communities," one resident lamented.

Efforts to reach Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, for comment on these findings via calls or WhatsApp messages proved unsuccessful.

In a related and grim incident in February 2026, suspected Boko Haram and allied jihadists perpetrated a massive and brutal massacre in the Woro and Nuku communities of Kwara State's Kaiama Local Government Area. This coordinated assault on the communities followed their unwavering refusal to accept the extremist ideology and stringent Sharia demands of the insurgents. While police and state officials officially reported a minimum of 75 fatalities, international observers and local leaders estimate the total death toll to have exceeded 160, with many victims reportedly having their throats cut and hands bound.

Prior to the massacre, the terrorists had preached in the area, attempting to compel locals to reject the Nigerian constitution and embrace their strict interpretation of Islam. When the communities fiercely rejected this ideology, the militants returned to raid the villages, setting homes and shops ablaze. Survivors and village heads recounted that the terrorists laid siege for nearly 10 hours before military forces and police arrived, allowing the attackers ample time to loot, abduct numerous women and children, and strategically plant bombs along potential escape routes. The massacre provoked widespread outrage across Nigeria and the international community, with the United States Mission in Nigeria and the Muslim World League issuing statements condemning the barbaric violence and endorsing the Nigerian military's intensified operations against terrorist cells in the region.