According to Daily Trust, residents of Sokoto State have expressed deep concerns about the rising threat posed by members of the Lakurawa sect, whose activities are causing immense hardship in the region.

The group, originally formed to protect communities from banditry, has increasingly resorted to imposing their own brand of religious laws on locals, forcing residents to adhere to practices such as growing beards and refraining from listening to music.

Malam Muhammadu Bauni, a local resident, highlighted the group’s growing influence and the heavy-handed tactics they use, including beating youths who defy their rules.

“They claim to be protecting us against bandits, but they have become a law unto themselves,” Bauni said.

The sect’s presence has been particularly felt in the localities of Gudu and Tangaza, where they impose religious taxes (zakat) and sometimes even confiscate property from those who refuse to comply.

The group, which has been operating in Sokoto and neighboring Kebbi State, is heavily armed and has been accused of abducting government officials and security personnel.

The recent kidnapping of a health worker, who remains missing, further escalated local fears. The military has confirmed the group’s involvement in these incidents, with operations to counter their influence currently underway.

The emergence of Lakurawa follows a breakdown in military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger Republic, which allowed the sect to infiltrate Nigeria’s northern borders.

Despite local resistance, the group’s power continues to grow, prompting calls for greater security intervention.

Authorities have stated that the military is working relentlessly to neutralize the group, but residents are urging quicker action to restore safety and peace to their communities