Concerns over the spread of extremist activities in Nigeria’s North-west have deepened after the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on security personnel in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
The claims, published in the latest edition of Al-Naba, the propaganda publication linked to the Islamic State group, are believed to be the first direct acknowledgement of operations by ISSP in Nigeria’s North-west region.
According to the publication, ISSP fighters ambushed a Nigerian Army patrol team near Runji village in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State on May 15, leading to a gun battle in which seven soldiers were allegedly killed.
The group claimed its fighters also destroyed a military vehicle and carted away several weapons, including rifles and machine guns.
In a separate attack reportedly carried out in Kebbi State, the extremists claimed they ambushed troops near Giro Masa village, killing 11 soldiers and a police officer.
The publication further alleged that two military vehicles were destroyed during the attack, while security operatives were targeted as they attempted to pursue the fighters.
Although the Nigerian military has yet to officially confirm the claims, security incidents involving armed groups were recorded in parts of Sokoto and Kebbi around the same period.
Those attacks had initially been attributed to Lakurawa, an armed group operating in parts of North-west Nigeria and along border communities.
The latest development has, however, renewed speculation about possible links between Lakurawa and extremist networks operating across the Sahel.
Security analysts remain divided over the ideological identity of the group. While some experts believe Lakurawa may be aligned with al-Qaeda-affiliated militants active in the region, others suspect growing operational ties with the Islamic State network.
The uncertainty reflects the increasingly complex nature of insecurity in Nigeria’s North-west, where armed banditry, terrorism, smuggling, and cross-border criminal operations often overlap.
Observers warn that the emergence of extremist narratives in the region could signal a dangerous shift in the country’s security landscape beyond the long-running insurgency in the North-East.
The claims also come months after United States President Donald Trump authorised airstrikes targeting suspected Islamic State elements in parts of North-west Nigeria and the Sahel region.
At the time, Trump cited growing extremist threats and attacks on communities as justification for the military action.
Analysts caution that terrorist organisations frequently exaggerate operational successes for propaganda purposes, recruitment, and psychological impact.
Nevertheless, the latest ISSP claims are expected to intensify pressure on Nigerian security agencies already battling insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence across several regions of the country.
Security experts say the evolving situation highlights the urgent need for stronger intelligence gathering, cross-border cooperation, and sustained military operations to prevent extremist groups from establishing deeper roots in the North-west.