Lakurawa Militants enforce marriage rules, peg bride price at ₦1,500 in Niger community

Lakurawa insurgents’ fighters have purportedly made new social and religious orders in Zugurma community of Borgu Local Government Area in Niger State that all teenage girls aged 15 years and above should be married, while bride price should be pegged at ₦1,500.

The event is said to have taken place on Sunday when the armed gang invaded the community in broad daylight and stayed for several hours speaking to the people.

According to community sources, the armed fighters used the opportunity to spread their ideology and make known some rules which the locals should abide by amid growing concerns over increasing militarization of rural communities within the Borgu axis.

Local sources say the gang ordered that all teenage girls aged 15 years and above must be married instantly while the sadaki price should be fixed at ₦1,500.

“They stayed in the community for hours preaching to people. During the meeting, they said any girl above 15 years must be married off. They also announced that bride price should be fixed at ₦1,500,” a resident said.

The Zugurma community, which is situated in a strategic position in connection with its proximity to a key road connecting Borgu and Mokwa, is believed to be of great significance owing to the connection it offers to many rural communities within other parts of the country.

The residents claim that the incident comes in the midst of an increasing trend in terms of movements and influence of armed groups within forests in Borgu and surrounding regions.

It has also been claimed that just before the attack, a large number of people suspected of being fighters had moved into the forest area of the region riding on motorcycles.

It has been claimed by the community members that many of the rural communities are left increasingly vulnerable to attacks from armed groups due to the absence of security cover in those places.

In the case of Borgu LGA, which is one of the biggest in terms of land area in the state, there are huge areas of forests in common with parts of Kwara and Kebbi states.