The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the rise of a new terror group in the Northwest – ‘Lukarawas.’ This latest menace has been creeping into Sokoto and Kebbi States, allegedly slipping through the borders from Niger after the country’s recent coup.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed this during a Thursday press briefing in Abuja. According to him, the group took advantage of the political chaos in Niger and the broken collaboration between Nigerian and Nigerien security forces. As the borders became vulnerable, these terrorists saw their chance, slipping through under the cover of Niger’s coup-induced disorder.
Buba explained, “The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions into remote areas in some north-western states to spread their ideology.”
Apparently, the terrorists weren’t initially seen as a threat. Some locals welcomed them, perhaps hoping they brought “good intentions” but that hospitality didn’t last. The group quickly revealed its true colours, yet the movement was never reported to the military or security agencies. The price? Remote communities in Sokoto and Kebbi have now become hideouts for armed terrorists aiming to enforce their extremist views.
In response, the Defence Headquarters claims to have ramped up Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations. These measures, according to the DHQ, aim to “degrade” the terrorists, who have thus far managed to exploit ungoverned territories to hide from troops and terrorize innocent locals.
But here’s where it gets even better, as if one armed group isn’t enough, the Nigerian Police Force in Sokoto State has also flagged the presence of Lukarawas across five local government areas. The command’s spokesperson, Ahmed Rufai, listed the impacted areas as Gudu, Tangaza, Binji, Illela, and one other, where the group has reportedly imposed its beliefs on communities with the aid of sophisticated weapons.
“Every day a new problem,” Nigeria’s security issues never seem to run dry, from bandits to Boko Haram to now, the Lukarawas. Just as one issue appears to be addressed, another one rears its head. So, what’s next?
