The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the presence of an armed Islamic group known as ?Lakurawas,? operating across at least five local government areas in the state.

The command?s spokesperson, ASP Ahmed Rufai, disclosed this in an interview on Wednesday.

He revealed that the group, reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons, has been active in local government areas including Gudu, Tangaza, Binji, and Illela, where they allegedly attempt to impose their beliefs on local residents.

?They have been in these areas for some years now, heavily armed, and are reportedly attempting to enforce their own religious practices on the people.

?Interestingly, they even target suspected bandits in these regions, claiming to be acting against criminality,? Rufai said.

This revelation follows earlier concerns raised by the Sokoto State Government over the emergence of the Lakurawas group in the state.

Deputy Governor Idris Gobir raised an alarm about the group?s activities while addressing participants from Course 33 of the National Defence College, Abuja, who were on a study tour in the state.

Gobir noted that an assessment indicated the group?s criminal activities are accompanied by the possession of advanced weapons, which has escalated security concerns in five local governments.

?This troubling development comes at a time when the state is already grappling with banditry,? Gobir stated.

The Deputy Governor further assured that the state government, in collaboration with federal security agencies, is making concerted efforts to protect the lives and property of Sokoto residents.

He expressed optimism that the Defence College study tour would provide valuable insights into the group?s operations and offer potential solutions for lasting peace.

Earlier, the leader of the Defence College delegation, Air Vice Marshal Titus Zuwahu Dauda, explained that the college, founded in 1992, is the country?s premier military educational institution, training officers from the military, police, and strategic agencies for high-level responsibilities.

Dauda noted that since its inception, the college has graduated 2,982 participants, including officers from 30 African and Asian nations.

The police and state government?s attention to this emerging group underscores the urgency of addressing security threats in Sokoto, as authorities seek to restore stability and ensure the safety of all residents. (Courtesy, excluding headline, The PUNCH)

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