Executive Summary

We assess that Lakurawa’s rise of activity in Nigeria presents an additional threat to Nigeria’s national security, which is already fractured in a year-long battle against Boko Haram. 

Some Nigerian authorities have claimed that Lakurawa is a new terrorist organization. However, some analysts argue that its roots trace back to groups formed in 1999. These groups have evolved from initially nomadic herders to criminal enterprises and more organized jihadist factions. This is in line with the general trend of increasing radicalization in ungoverned spaces across the region. [source, source, source]

The rise in terrorist activity happens amid an exacerbating food crisis caused by inflation, climate change, and conflicts, affecting over 30 million Nigerians – about 13% of its population. [source]

Images Sourced From: Pvt. Faron High, Spc. Mario Hernandez Lopez, Senior Airman Alexandra Minor