Defence Headquarters has confirmed the presence of a new terrorists’ group known as ‘Lukarawas’ in Sokoto and Kebbi states, accusing it of aggravating the security challenges in the Northwest.
The DHQ also declared wanted no fewer than nine terrorists’ commanders accused of wreaking havoc in the Northeast region, adding that no matter how hard they tried, the terrorists would be neutralised within the shortest possible time.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, who disclosed this during a press briefing at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, said the terrorists had since been kept at bay by the joint security forces.
While receiving participants of Course 33 of the NDC Abuja, who were on a study tour, Sokoto State Government had raised the alarm over the emergence of another terrorist group in the state.
Also, as Chadian troops intensified operations on the shores of the Lake Chad, some Boko Haram terrorists have continued to move further into villages in Borno State, heightening locals’ fears of possible security breaches.
The Defence spokesman, who explained how the terrorists found their way to Sokoto and Kebbi, said they emerged from Niger Republic after the coup that led to the breakdown of military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
Buba specifically said that the terrorists began incursion into northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Niger Republic and Mali axis, particularly after the coup in Niger Republic.
He said prior to the coup, there were joint border operations with Nigerien security forces which kept the terrorists at bay, but they cashed in on the breakdown to penetrate Nigeria.
“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some Northwestern states to spread their ideology,” Buba said.
He said that the group was accommodated by the locals, who initially thought that the group meant well for them, adding that they failed to report the movement to the military and security agencies.
He gave assurance that troops had sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) to degrade the terrorists, insisting that their end is near.
Buba added, “The terror group had continued to take advantage of the vast under-governed or ungoverned areas to hide and evade troops as well as harass the locals. Troops are locating them and eliminating the threat.” Similarly, the terrorists the senior military officer declared wanted include: Abu Khadijah, Abdulrahman, Dadi Gumba, Usman Kanin Shehu, Abu Yusuf, among others.
