The Chairman, Tangaza Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State, Alhaji Isa Kalenjeni has raised the alarm over a foreign armed religious group, Lakurawa luring its youths with N1m for membership.
The group, according to the chairman, occupy some of the forests across five LGAs of the state and are reportedly from Libya, Mali and Niger Republic.
Kalenjeni noted that the group allegedly launched one of the deadliest attacks in the area that resulted in the killing of four soldiers on patrol along Gudu Road recently.
Speaking to newsmen, Kalenjeni said that members of the group had been preaching and imposing some laws in the neighbouring villages.
“They are forcing people to pay Zakkat and at the same time robbing people of their belongings. Just recently, they robbed a shop owner of N2 million. They also seized his car and released it after he paid N350,000,” the chairman said.
He added that the armed group, who claimed to be fighting the Nigerian government, also robbed four motorcycles in Balle, the headquarters of Gudu LGA.
“They usually come to our communities during the day and go back to the forest at night. They also have drones which they use in monitoring the movement of security operatives,” he said.
Confirming this, the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr Idris Gobir, said an assessment carried out indicated that the group possessed sophisticated weapons and their criminal activities were observed in about five LGAs of the state.
Gobir said the development was happening when the state was battling banditry activities, and pledged to address the situation.
Gobir added that the government had been working closely with the federal security agencies to address the security threats in the state.