In an apparent move to flush out the new terror group, Lukarawa, the Army high command has mobilised and deployed troops of Operation Fasan Yamma to the affected states of Kebbi and Sokoto.
Consequently, the acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, on Sunday, visited the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto, to give some pep talks to the battle-ready troops.
According to reports, General Olukoyede ordered the troops to use everything in their disposal to dispatch the new terror group to where they rightly belong-hell.
At the Masallaci community in the Tangaza Local Government Area where he spoke with journalists, Oluyede urged residents of the community to cooperate with the military and volunteer credible information without which the battle against the criminals would be futile.
“I am here to assess my troops,” the acting COAS told newsmen. “You see, there will always be challenges. The issue is how we react to these challenges. One of the reasons I am here is to charge up my soldiers to rise to the challenge, and that we shall do.
“My charge to the community people is for them to support us. If we don’t get their support we can’t succeed. And if we don’t succeed that means the country won’t be secured. We need the support of Nigerians so that we can have economic prosperity in the country.”
Speaking further, he stated, “I am here to see my soldiers to assess their state of readiness and to charge them to continue to do what they have been doing best to secure the country in general.”
The acting COAS also visited the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and other relevant stakeholders in the state. He and also held talks with troops of Operation FASAN YANMA to motivate them for the task agead.
Gen. Oluyede also visited troops in the Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State where he held meetings with officers of the battalion there, as well as officers and operatives of other security agencies in the state, emphasising the need for need for collaboration.
Only last week, the Defence Headquarters announced the emergence of a new terror group called Lukarawa operating in Kebbi and Sokoto States.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, had, at an emergency press conference, announced that the terror group, which is affiliated with jihadi factions in Mali and Niger, made incursion into Nigeria as a fall-out of the coup that toppled Nigerien President Mohammed Basoum last year.
Their presence in the North West has heightened security concerns in that region of the country, General Buba added.
The Punch newspaper quoted a source, an officer, who hinted that the military high command was working to ensure that every part of the North West was safe.
“Yes, we are on top of the situation,” the source was quoted as saying. “I can confirm to you that troops have been mobilised to the troubled Local Government Areas in Sokoto and Kebbi states to restore peace and order.
“We are very determined to dislodge the Lukarawa from our land and back to wherever they came from.”
The newspaper also quoted a source in Tangaza Local Government Area , which it said, disclosed that the terror group had, indeed, been operating in the area for the past six years.
“In November 2018,’ the source continued, “residents of the communities in Tangaza and Gudu Local Government Areas of Sokoto state raised the alarm over the presence of strange terror groups in their communities.
“The residents of the two local government areas had alleged that the terror group, who we learnt came from Mali, were flogging residents, imposing levies and taxes, and preaching to the members of the communities.”
However, the then caretaker Chairman of Tangaza local council, Maidamma Yari, had reportedly dismissed the allegation at the time, but admitted that some persons who arrived at the council from Niger Republic had helped push back the bandits operating in the area.
“Some strange persons from the Niger Republic arrived at the local government a few weeks ago,” Yari had noted, “and their coming has helped in pushing back kidnappers who attempted to come into the local government from Zamfara State.’’
Residents of the Tangaza LGA were more forthcoming on the issue. One, Usman Alfadari, told the newspaper that the terror group had been operating in the area for over six years.
“For over two years now,” Alfadari said, “if they entered the bush and met anyone rearing cattle, they would demand to see the owner of the cattle, and ask if the person was a cattle rustler or owner. They would then demand tax or zakat.
“Also, if they come to the mosque in any town, if the imam displeased them, they will bring him out and flog him. Even during the Juma’at prayers, if they go to a mosque and realized the Imam did not commence the Friday sermon on time, they would flog him and thereafter direct him to carry out the sermon and prayer.
“Before now, they made their camp far away from the town but recently, they have started getting closer to the main town. In fact, the camp is just about six kilometers away from Gidan Madi here in Tangaza. They are also in Binji, Silame, Gudu local government areas.
“They are more present in Gudu local government than any other place; they attacked and killed four soldiers there sometime ago. They even went away with a security vehicle one time after dislodging them.
“They also came to Gongoro village in Tangaza LGA where they launched an attack, but thank God for the people of the community who engaged them and in the process killed four of them.”
Mahmud Tangaza, another resident, told The Punch, that “They are in Tangaza, Gudu, Binji, Silame and part of Gwadabawa local government area. They never left the environment since around 2018 when they first came but it’s unfortunate that this is the first time the government is taking them seriously. They impose tax, especially on cattle and enact laws in accordance with their beliefs and nobody dare argue with them.”
Another source clarified that the group used to clash with the bandits operating in the area.
“They used to attack bandits then when they first came here. Whenever there is a bandit attack, they go there to confront and chase them away. I think that is part of the strategy in gaining the confidence of the people.
“It is, however, surprising now that from the rumours flying in town, these people are now working in tandem with bandits to attack innocent people,” the worried resident said.
The state police command was yet to issue a statement on the developments as at the time of this report.
