The military yesterday unfolded a new terrorist group with base in Sokoto and Kebbi states in the Northwest where they are already causing havoc.
It announced the bid to take out the terrorists and obliterate them from Nigeria’s territory.
“Now that we know where they are, we are already going after them, and we will take them out,” Defence Headquarters spokesman Maj-Gen Edward Buba said yesterday.
According to him, the group Lukarawas, is linked to Islamic State (ISISI) and it members crossed into Nigeria from Niger Republic.
He added that when they settled in areas between Sokoto and Kebbi, the people did not raise the alarm or reported to security operatives or the military until they started their nefarious activities.
Gen. Buba said: “‘Lukarawas is affiliated with ISIS in Sahelian region, particularly Mali and Niger Republics. And this is the first time the Sahelian jihadists are making an incursion in our country.
“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger, and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some North Western states to spread their ideology.”
The defence spokesman said the group was accommodated by the locals who initially thought that the group meant well for them, adding that they failed to report the movement to the military and security agencies.
General Buba added: “The people did not report on time until they started causing havoc and placing levies on them.
“Now that we know where they are, we are already going after them, and we will take them out.”
Buba gave assurance that troops had sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) to degrade the terrorists.
He added that the terror group had continued to take advantage of the vast under-governed areas to hide and evade troops as well as harass the locals.
According to him, troops are locating them and eliminating the threat.
General Buba said that the new terror group in Sokoto and Kebbi States emerged from the Republic of Niger after the coup that led to the breakdown of military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
In 2009, Nigeria got her first taste of terrorism when the Boko Haram group started its operation in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
The activities of the group gained tempo after its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was killed.
Its members started with the slogan: Education (Boko) is Haram.
They launched an insurrection which spread like a wild fire in the Northeast.
The military is still battling to clear out the terrorist, fifteen years after.
While the military was battling Boko Haram in the Northeast, bandits were the problem in the Northwest until yesterday’s announcement of the Lukarawas terrorist in that geo-political zone.
Also yesterday, the DHQ said nine terrorist had been declared wanted in the Northeast.
They are: Abu Khadijah, Abur Rahman, Dadi Gumba, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Usman Kanin Shehu, Ibrahim Suyeka, Ba Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.
General Buba said the wanted persons hail from the North East region, and have been causing havoc in the area.
He urged the public to provide useful information that could lead to the arrest of the criminals.
General Buba said troops neutralised 481 terrorists, arrested 741 criminals, rescued 492 kidnap victims, recovered 480 weapons and 9,026 ammunition during operations across the country last month.
He said “this another evidence of the sterling performance of the military against terrorist across states in the North since last year.”
Northcentral ‘gang leaders’ begging to surrender
General Buba said the military had opened its surrendering corridors to some Northcentral terror gang leaders who have indicated interest to drop their guns.
He said the terrorists have been under intense superior firefight of the military, losing fighters day-by-day, hence, had no other option that to surrender.
Buba said: “Like I have always said, the terrorists are left with the option of surrendering or killed in the battle field. There is no third option.
“For those that are now willing to surrender, surrendering is part of war. In war, there is a window of surrendering. When an enemy raises his hands up and drops his weapon, it is crime to shoot at him. And we are a professional force. They have indicated they want to surrender, but they are afraid if we will take them out in the process. But we have assured them that we will create a safe corridor for them to surrender and drop their arms, and we will receive them. Afterall, we are receiving surrendered terrorists in the Northest.”
