Two Catholic priests in Nigeria have expressed grave concern over the worsening security situation in the West African nation, citing the emergence of a new jihadist group known as Lakurawa. Father George Ehusani, founder of the Psycho-Spiritual Institute (PSI), and Father Hyacinth Ichoku, Vice Chancellor of Veritas University Abuja, warned that the group’s activities in the northwest region of Nigeria could exacerbate the country’s insecurity challenges.
According to Ehusani, the Lakurawa group emerged in 2018, initially presenting itself as a protector of locals against armed attackers. However, the group has since turned militant, imposing stringent sharia laws, kidnapping, and killing locals. Ehusani described the group’s activities as a “nightmare” for the people of Northwest Nigeria, who have already been terrorized by Boko Haram and other jihadist groups.
Ichoku shed more light on the origins of the Lakurawa group, tracing its roots to the killing of soldiers in Chad. The group’s formation, he said, was a result of the President of Chad’s efforts to dislodge those involved in the killing. Ichoku expressed concern that the Lakurawa group, although still small, is potent and could become a significant threat to Nigeria’s security.
The priests criticized the Nigerian government for not taking the threat posed by the Lakurawa group seriously. Ehusani regretted that Nigerians have become more loyal to their religion and ethnic groups than to the country, making it challenging to address the security challenges facing the nation. The priests called on the government to take immediate action to nip the Lakurawa group in the bud and to address the underlying issues driving the country’s insecurity challenges.