DHQ Declares Nine Lakurawas Terror Suspects Wanted, Cites Border Security Breach Following Niger Coup

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has officially declared nine suspected members of the Lakurawas terror group wanted.

The list includes Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba (alias Abu Muhammed), Usman Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, revealed this development in Abuja on Thursday, stating that the Lakurawas group emerged from Niger following the recent coup, which disrupted the military collaboration between Nigeria and Niger.

As a result, the group began infiltrating Nigeria’s northern Sokoto and Kebbi states, exploiting difficult terrain and limited governance in remote areas to avoid detection and spread their ideology.

Buba explained that prior cooperation with Nigerien security forces effectively kept such threats at bay. However, with current border security gaps, the terrorists have managed to establish a foothold. Initially, locals in these regions reportedly welcomed the group, under the impression of their good intentions.

This lack of early reporting to military and security agencies allowed the terrorists to establish a presence.

Reassuring the public, Buba emphasised that troops are intensifying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to locate and neutralise the terrorist threats in the region.

Follow us on: