The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has issued a stern warning, urging the Nigerian military to take swift and decisive action against the newly emerged Lakurawa terror group, which is causing havoc in Sokoto and Kebbi states. According to the ACF, this group is a dangerous escalation in the already dire security situation in the North-West region, an area that has unfortunately become the breeding ground for various terrorist activities in Nigeria.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the ACF criticized the Nigerian government and security forces for their lackadaisical approach towards emerging threats. The Forum highlighted that the rise of the Lakurawa gang is a severe blow to national security, bringing fresh challenges that require immediate and aggressive military intervention.
The ACF made it clear: no half-hearted measures should be tolerated this time. They emphasized that ignoring this group or giving them the same kind of children treatment previously afforded to Boko Haram insurgents, farmer-herder clashes, and bandits in the Northeast and Northcentral regions could lead to devastating consequences. The Forum stressed the need for a comprehensive review of current counter-terrorism strategies, calling on the military to deploy all available resources in a no-nonsense approach to dismantle this new threat.
The ACF also recommended revitalizing the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MJTF), urging Nigeria to collaborate more effectively with neighboring countries like Niger Republic. They suggested that recent diplomatic engagements, such as the visit by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, should be used to strengthen cross-border efforts against these violent groups.
The Forum further advised the Nigerian government to leverage its close socio-cultural and economic ties with neighboring countries to combat shared security threats. ACF highlighted the importance of intensifying intelligence gathering and warned against the dangers of local informants aiding terrorists. They called for a thorough vetting of community members to fish out informants and ensure they face justice.
In a final plea, the ACF emphasized the need for better coordination among national security agencies. They urged that all efforts be streamlined under the Office of the National Security Advisor to ensure a unified, efficient response to this growing threat. The emergence of Lakurawa, according to the ACF, is a wake-up call for the Nigerian government to act swiftly and decisively before the situation gets out of control, further endangering the peace and stability of the region.
