National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has issued a stern warning to the newly emerged Islamic sect, known as “Lakurawa,” operating in Nigeria’s North-West region.
Addressing the group at the opening ceremony of the Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Ribadu stated emphatically that their days are numbered if they continue to engage in terrorism.
He emphasized that no group or individual dares to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration and “gets away with it.”
Ribadu’s warning came in response to rising concerns over Lakurawa’s activities, which have recently been reported to be threatening the stability of Sokoto and Kebbi states. “This group has come at the wrong time,” he said. “With President Tinubu in power, they will be driven out of Nigeria.”
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The Defence Headquarters also confirmed the presence of this new group, describing it as a serious threat to the region.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed at a press briefing in Abuja that this group, known locally as “Lukawaras,” is exacerbating insecurity in the North-West.
He assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are actively addressing the situation and monitoring the group’s movements closely.
“Troops are now confronting this new terrorist sect in the North-West. The Lukawaras are believed to have affiliations with terror groups in the Sahel, particularly from Mali and Niger Republic,” Buba said.
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According to the Defence spokesperson, the sect originated from Mali and Niger and has recently made incursions into Northern Nigeria.
General Buba attributed their appearance to a breakdown in military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger following recent political upheavals in Niger.
As part of efforts to combat this rising threat, the military has declared nine terrorists wanted for their involvement in the ongoing insecurity in the region.
Security experts say that containing the Lakurawa sect is critical to restoring peace in the North-West, a region already battling various insurgent activities.