A new chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges is unfolding as Ameer Habib Tajje, leader of the recently emerged “Lakurawa” group, has publicly urged Bello Turji, one of Nigeria’s most notorious bandit leaders, to abandon his criminal lifestyle......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
Turji’s violent activities have long plagued northwestern Nigeria, where his group enforces control through kidnappings and demands “taxes” from local farmers, who must pay before they can harvest their crops.
The extensive influence Turji wields has made him a primary target for security agencies across the country.
Tajje’s appeal to Turji was relayed by counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama on his X (formerly Twitter) account. In his post, Makama shared that Tajje intends to send an official delegation to meet Turji, aiming to persuade him to give up his criminal pursuits entirely.
The emergence of the Lakurawa group has added to the complexities facing Nigerian security forces. First observed earlier this year, Lakurawa has quickly expanded its influence by moving through communities, collecting taxes and levies while actively preaching against Western ideals and democratic values—a rhetoric that closely mirrors that of Boko Haram.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters confirmed Lakurawa’s existence on Friday, highlighting that the group has established strongholds in both Sokoto and Kebbi states.
