A new terrorist group known as Wulowulo, allegedly linked to Boko Haram, has emerged in North-Central Nigeria, sparking fresh security fears across the region.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State raised the alarm during an expanded security meeting in Lafia, warning that intelligence reports identified the Wulowulo faction as a splinter group of Boko Haram, according to Daily Nigerian.
Sule said the group has started building a presence in parts of Kwara State, describing the development as “deeply troubling.”
He urged security agencies to act swiftly to prevent the group from spreading into other states.
“One of the reasons for this meeting is the growing insecurity across the country, which is starting to spread into our region,” the governor said. “This new Wulowulo group, a splinter of Boko Haram, is appearing in the North-Central zone. We must act to stop it from reaching Nasarawa.”
The governor also expressed concern over the activities of another violent network known as Lakurawa, which has reportedly become active in Kwara State after migrating from Kebbi and Sokoto.
“We should be worried that these groups do not extend their operations to Nasarawa,” Sule warned, calling for vigilance and coordination among security agencies.
Governor Sule further ordered a full-scale investigation into the recent killings in Kokona Local Government Area, where seven people died during a land clash between the Mada and Ninzom communities.
He directed the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to launch an immediate probe and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The governor also expressed alarm over a surge in kidnappings in Lafia and Karu, urging security agencies to intensify surveillance and adopt new strategies to curb abductions.
The emergence of the Wulowulo group marks a dangerous expansion of extremist movements beyond Nigeria’s traditional insurgency zones in the North-East, raising fears that Boko Haram’s offshoots are spreading into the country’s central states.
Security analysts say the development could destabilize the region if left unchecked, as splinter factions often recruit disillusioned youths and exploit weak local security structures.