The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has confirmed the formation of a new terrorist group, known as ‘Lukarawas,’ which is heightening insecurity in Nigeria’s northwestern region.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, announced the development on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing the group’s emergence to the recent coup in the Republic of Niger and the resulting breakdown in military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
According to Maj.-Gen. Buba, the Lukarawas group is infiltrating northern areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States from the Niger Republic and Mali, taking advantage of the absence of joint border operations previously conducted by Nigerian and Nigerien security forces.
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“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some North Western states to spread their ideology,” he explained.
The group initially found refuge among local communities, who did not immediately recognize the threat they posed. Maj.-Gen. Buba noted that the locals believed the group had good intentions and did not report their presence to security agencies.
Despite the challenges, Nigerian troops have intensified intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations to curb the group’s influence. However, the Lukarawas are exploiting vast, under-governed areas to hide and evade detection while continuing to harass and intimidate residents.
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Maj.-Gen. Buba assured that the military is committed to locating and neutralizing the threat posed by the Lukarawas. He added that these operations are ongoing, as troops remain focused on degrading the capabilities of this emerging group.
The Defence Headquarters urged communities to cooperate by reporting suspicious movements, underscoring the importance of military-civilian collaboration in tackling the spread of insurgency in the region.
NAN