*DHQ says a new terrorist sect known as Lakurawas has infiltrated Northwest region
*Says the sect affiliated to terrorists from Republics of Mali and Niger
*Blames emergence of terrorists on coup in Mali
*Military assures that it remains focused in its mission to eliminate all terrorists
By Emmanuel Obisue
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, DHQ, on Thursday disclosed that a new terrorist sect identified as “the Lakurawas” has migrated massively from the Sahel Region into Nigeria’s Northwest Region, and are already unleashing terror on Nigerians.
Nigerian Pilot reports that this worrisome development adds to the list of existential terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, armed bandits, armed herdsmen, IPOB/ESN, that the country’s Armed Forces are already battling with, mostly in the Northwest, Northeast, and Southeast regions of the country.
Briefing journalists at the DHQ on Thursday in Abuja, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, said the sect which is affiliated to terrorists from Republics of Mali and Niger, took advantage of the breakdown in communication between Nigeria’s military and its counterpart in the Sahel, and began to make “incursions” into Sokoto and Kebbi states after the coup in Mali took place.
Buba however, assured that its troops of Operation Hadarin Daji remains focussed on their mission to rid Kaduna, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states of insecurity. “Troops embarked on several offensive operations, canalising and destroying these terrorists in their hideouts and enclaves through ground and air operations,” Buba said.
“Nevertheless, troops are confronted with a new terrorist Sect in the NW. The Sect is known as the Lakurawas and have their origin from IS in the Sahelian Region.
“The Lakurawas are affiliates of terrorists from the Republics of Mali and Niger. They began incursion into northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi States, from the Niger and Mali axis, particularly after the coup in Niger Republic.
“Prior to the coup, there were joint border operations with Nigerien security forces which kept the terrorists at bay. The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some NW states to spread their ideology.
“The military cooperation between security forces in the Republic of Niger and their own forces has been restored. This would help to tackle the new threat. Meanwhile, troops have sustained offensives to degrade these terrorists. Troops are locating them and eliminating the threat,” the DHQ stated.
Nigerian Pilot reports that while the DHQ blamed communities in Kebbi and Sokoto states for embracing the Lakurawas upon their arrival, and not reporting them to security agencies, the gaps in cooperation between Nigerian forces and its counterpart in the Sahel may have caused a slack in intelligence gathering and sharing.