By Bashir Lawal, Sokoto
Concerns are mounting over reports that suspected Lakurawa jihadists have taken control of at least 11 communities in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, imposing a parallel system of authority in the region.
The affected communities including Sanyinna, Mogonho, and Salewa are said to be under the influence of the armed group, which residents claim now handles dispute resolution and enforces its own rules.
A local source attributed the development to porous borders and difficult terrain.
However, the Sokoto State Police Command has denied the claims, insisting normalcy prevails in the area.
Reacting via text message, Police Public Relations Officer DSP Ahmed Rufae stated that “all aforementioned communities were conducting their normal activities,” adding that none was under militant control.
Despite the denial, reports of violence continue to emerge, including the alleged execution of an elderly woman accused of witchcraft.
Security analysts warn that such developments could signal a dangerous erosion of state authority.
“This is a dangerous evolution. When insurgent groups begin to provide dispute resolution and social order, they gain acceptance,” one analyst noted.
Authorities recently arrested a suspected terrorism financier linked to cattle rustling networks, highlighting the complexity of the crisis
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