Insecurity: Governor Sule Raises Alarm Over New Boko Haram Splinter Group ‘Wulowulo’ in North-Central Nigeria
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has warned of the emergence of a new Boko Haram splinter faction identified as Wulowulo, which he said has begun infiltrating parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region.
OTN News further reports as gathered that the governor raised the alarm during a high-level security stakeholders’ meeting held in Lafia, the state capital.
The meeting brought together top security officials, traditional rulers, and community leaders to discuss the growing threats posed by terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping across the region.
According to Governor Sule, intelligence reports indicate that the newly formed Wulowulo group has started operations in some North-Central states, sparking fears of renewed extremist activity in a region already struggling with insecurity.
“As you are aware, this new group called Wulowulo, a splinter faction of Boko Haram, is beginning to surface in the North-Central zone,” Sule said, adding “we are deeply concerned that their presence could further destabilize the fragile security situation in our region.”
The governor also disclosed that another extremist group known as the Lakurawa faction, previously active in Kebbi and Sokoto States—has now expanded its operations into Kwara State.
“The Lakurawa group is now a major problem in Kwara. Originally, they were concentrated around Kebbi and Sokoto, but they have now become more active in Kwara, which is also part of the North-Central zone,” he explained.
Sule said the meeting was convened to develop proactive measures to prevent both groups from gaining a foothold in Nasarawa State, emphasizing the urgency of coordinated action.
“Some of these groups are beginning to spread towards our borders. It is very important that we act decisively now to prevent them from establishing a base here,” he warned.
The governor also expressed worry over rising incidents of kidnapping in parts of Lafia and Karu Local Government Areas, calling on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and adopt new approaches to curb the menace before it worsens.
Security analysts have described the development as a troubling sign of the evolving nature of Nigeria’s insurgency crisis, as splinter factions continue to emerge and spread beyond the country’s northeastern states.
Late last year, intelligence reports indicated that the Lakurawa faction had infiltrated parts of Sokoto and Kebbi States from Niger Republic and Mali, raising fears of a wider transnational terror network exploiting Nigeria’s porous borders.
Governor Sule’s latest warning has heightened concerns that the North-Central region could become the next hotspot for extremist violence if urgent counterterrorism measures are not reinforced.
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