Security and intelligence expert Yahuza Getso has identified five major groups responsible for terrorist activities across northern Nigeria, particularly in the North Central and North West regions. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Getso explained that insecurity in the region is driven by a complex network of actors performing different roles that sustain armed violence, kidnappings, and attacks.
According to him, the first category consists of informants who serve as critical enablers for terrorist operations. These individuals provide intelligence, surveillance, and logistical support that help armed groups plan and execute attacks within vulnerable communities.
He said the second group comprises combined militias operating across several parts of northern Nigeria. These militias, he noted, form another layer of organized armed actors that contribute to the broader insecurity challenges facing the region.
The third group identified by Getso is Boko Haram. He explained that the insurgent group remains active and has increasingly turned to kidnappings, illegal weapons trading, and other criminal activities to generate funds as it struggles to sustain its operations.
Getso also pointed to the Lakurawa militia as the fourth group involved in terrorist activities. He stated that more than 90 percent of the group’s members are foreigners. While there is no clear evidence that they have begun recruiting Nigerians into combat roles, he said they are reportedly recruiting locals for intelligence gathering, information sharing, and certain social service functions that support their presence in affected areas.
The fifth group, according to the security expert, is a faction led by Abubakar Jalongu. He said the group is believed to be working in collaboration with foreign elements suspected to be from Mali and other countries, forming another layer within the broader terrorist network operating across northern Nigeria.
Getso noted that understanding these different groups and their operational structures is crucial for designing effective security strategies to address the growing insecurity in the region.