Troops pursuing Fleeing Lakurawa Terrorists

Keeping to its promise that there will be no hiding place for members of the Lakurawa terrorist group, the Nigerian military is ramping up coordinated ground and air attacks on the terrorists’ camps across Kebbi and Sokoto states.

Reports indicated that after arriving in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, the Nigerian troops, went into action, promptly dislodging the bandits and recovering several stolen cattle left behind as the attackers fled.

According to Abdullahi Idris Zuru, Media Aide to the Kebbi State Governor, the troops met with Deputy Governor Abubakar Umar Tafida at the Cabinet Office before proceeding to the theatre of their operation in Mera.

The reports said this new deployment came after an urgent appeal from Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, for federal support to address the escalating violence by armed groups disrupting life in rural communities.

Zuru sayd in a statement; “The governor has pledged to safeguard the lives and property of all Kebbi State citizens, leading him to seek federal intervention to counter-terrorism across the state”

Recalled that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, had at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, assured that the Lakurawa armed group terrorising Northwestern states would be flushed out of Nigeria.

Ribadu, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the event, said; “We will chase the so-called Lukarawa out of our country. We will put critics to shame and shut their mouths in no time. “Boko Haram, which has been ravaging our country, is now on the run. Its members are now moving to other neighbouring countries because Nigeria is no longer conducive for their operations”.

Also, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar in a recent interview with the BBC Hausa Service said the Federal Government is determined to eliminate the new terror group, Lakurawa, and stop it from wreaking havoc in the North West region of the country.

Abubakar said the government is implementing various measures to effectively eradicate the terror group, assuring that more equipment and additional troops would be deployed to the affected areas as part of ongoing efforts to stem the tide of worrying insecurity in the affected areas and ensure the problem does not escalate to other states.

According to him; “The (acting) Chief of Army Staff has visited the areas and he has discussed with other service chiefs on how to crush these people. They have rolled out strategies on how to end the new terror group, God willing, including the provision of additional equipment and troops that will be deployed to the affected areas to bring an end to it.

“Christopher Musa, (the Chief of Defence Staff), the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Chief of Air Staff have met and have mapped out strategies, and I am convinced of how they are going to handle the issue. With your prayers, we are going to decimate and end this security challenge, God willing.”

The Minister said despite existing and emerging challenges, the government has recorded significant strides in the war against terror, adding; “If you look at it, we have recorded successes in the last year.

“But as you know, while you are strategising, they are also coming up with different tactics, but by and large, anyone who is aware of the happenings will tell you that we have recorded successes in this fight, and we pray this will continue until this security challenge is completely addressed.

“The Service Chiefs are working on implementing measures that would stem the tide of this threat and ensure that it does not escalate to other states or towns.”

Forefront News recalls reports that the new armed group, Lakurawa, recently killed about 17 persons and rustled over 100 cows in Mera, Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, a development that saw the Army headquarters deploying a contingent of soldiers to the area.

This unfortunate situation has continued to raise serious concerns across the North West region, with residents in the affected states urging the Federal Government to step up measures aimed at addressing existing security challenges they are faced with daily.