KANO, NIGERIA: An attack by suspected radical militants from a group targeted by the United States in December airstrikes has killed 20 people in northwest Nigeria, an intelligence report showed on Sunday.
Details of the Attack
A confidential security report prepared for the United Nations, seen by AFP, stated that jihadists from the shadowy Lakurawa group raided the Fesken Rafi community in Kebbi state's Arewa district near the Niger border, killing more than 20 victims. The raid reportedly occurred a few days ago, according to local media, but was only reported over the weekend after the Kebbi state deputy governor visited the area. No exact date was provided.
Resurgence of Violence
The attack followed a lull in violence by Lakurawa in recent months, suggesting a resurgence of the jihadist group's activities. The report indicated that the attack may have been intended to demonstrate the group's capability to conduct complex operations despite intensified military offensives.
The US military struck parts of northwestern Nigeria on December 25, which the Nigerian government said targeted Islamic State group fighters, the Lakurawa jihadist group, and bandit criminal gangs. It remains unknown how many were killed or which groups were affected.
Motive and Context
The motive of the latest attack remains unclear. However, in recent weeks, jihadists and criminal gangs of kidnappers and cattle thieves, known as bandits, have been attacking and kidnapping farmers who fail to pay levies imposed on communities to allow them to cultivate their fields in northern and central Nigeria.
Lakurawa has remained active in communities along the Nigeria-Niger border despite security efforts to push them out of Kebbi state. The report warned that Lakurawa's violence could transform into a transnational threat due to the group's multinational composition, which complicates counterterrorism efforts.
Links to Islamic State
Some researchers link Lakurawa to the Islamic State in the Sahel, which is primarily active in Mali and neighboring Niger, although others remain skeptical. The jihadist insurgency in Nigeria, led primarily by Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions.
