The emergence of the newest terrorists group in the North West region continues to agitate the mind of the authorities
By Udoka Ekeleme, Abuja
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu would not spare the Lakurawa terrorists group any prominence or beyond the surface emphasis. Lakurawa is the latest entrant into the terror world of bestial terrorists operating in the North Western part of the country. But, from his grandstanding gestures, while he mentioned the group’s name in passing, it could be deduced that Lakurawa carved out a formidable position in the mind of the ruling authorities and therefore, must not be toyed with.
The NSA spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 when he represented President Bola Tinubu at annual Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Conference 2024. The day coincided with the day troops were deployed to Kebbi State to quell the insurgency orchestrated by Lakurawa in which no fewer than 17 citizens of the state were murdered in cold blood.
Bringing the nefarious activities of Lakurawa to the fore at the conference, Ribadu said: “The new terrorists group, Lakurawa, or whatever they call themselves, has made a mistake. This is Nigeria of 2024, we will finish them. No one dares Tinubu and wins. No one fights Tinubu and wins. The terrorists that were in many parts of the country, we are killing. There is silence in many parts where they were operating.
“Go where Boko Haram was operating, there is silence. They have fled to Niger Republic, many are surrendering. Hundreds of bandits are killed daily. You move everywhere in the country today free of fear, Tinubu’s gains. Things are changing.
“These so-called Lakurawas or whatever they are called, are making a mistake. Nobody dares Tinubu and wins, nobody. They have come at a wrong time. Nobody has ever defeated Tinubu. They are going to be defeated. We will kick you out of Nigeria”.
Early November, Lakurawa invaded the Augie Local Government Council of Kebbi State where its deviant members massacred over 17 citizens. On Wednesday, November 13, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, deployed a contingent of soldiers to the troubled state to dislodge Lakurawa. This is sequel to a Save our Soul (SOS) message sent to the CDS by Dr Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi State.
On November 7, 2924, the Defence Headquarters (DHQs) announced the emergence of Lakurawa as the new terrorists group in the North West. The DHQs hinted that Lakurawa’s entrance to Nigeria was a result of the breakup of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which comprised of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, caused by President Tinubu’s hard stance on the military takeover in Niger Republic and Chad.
On its part, the Sokoto State Government, one of the states where Lakurawa has pitched its tent, has shown apprehension over the emergence of the Lakurawa terrorists group. Deputy Governor of the state, Idris Gobir, indicated his state Government’s dread for the terrorists when he received, penultimate week, participants of the Course 33 of the National Defence College Abuja who embarked on a study tour of the state. The Deputy Governor revealed that the terrorists group, which is alleged to have been around since 2018, is a faith-based idealist group.
According to Gobir, “Assessment carried out indicated that the group possessed sophisticated weapons and their criminal activities were observed in about five Local Government Areas of the state”.
Although the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in its characteristic style of handling insecurity in the land is dismissing the Lakurawa with a wave of the hand, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the apex sociopolitical body of the Northern political block thinks otherwise. The ACF continues to express deep concern about the devilish activities of Lakurawa in the North West states of Sokoto and Kebbi. Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, said in a statement that the emergence of Lakurawa portends danger to the people of the Northern Nigeria.
He said: “Although membership of the group is reported of foreign origin, speaking French and dialect of Arabic Languages, it is said to engage in membership recruitment using monetary incentives and/force. Already, within the last 48 hours, the group had attacked communities in Argungu Local Area killing 15 persons.
“This development is simply one too many. ACF considers the emergence of this group as very dangerous and alarming as it indicates an escalation in the very devastating state of insecurity in the North West, now the Nigeria’s epicenter of terrorism.
“Coming amid signs of successes from the renewed vigour by the Nigerian military to decapitate banditry in this zone, the new development raises serious concerns as further grave challenge to Nigeria’s national security interest. Thus, the group should not be toyed with in any form and must be processed and treated with all seriousness.
“Lakurawa at this incipient stage of its emergence, must not be tolerated or allowed to entrench itself to embed in our communities through benign neglect and/or kid-glove treatment as was the case with Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder clashes and banditry in the North East, North Central and North West areas respectively.
Following the development, a Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) appealed to the Federal Government to immediately eliminate the new dreaded Lakurawa sect operating in the North West region of the country.
National Coordinator of CNG, Comrade Jamilu Charanchi, in a statement said concerted effort is demanded to frontally and holistically tackle the emergence of the terrorist group, basically based in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
“The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, calls for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to tackle the emergence of a terrorist group called Lakurawa around the Sokoto-Kebbi axis.
“The CNG particularly charges local, state, and federal authorities on one hand and communities, religious and traditional leaders on the other hand to join hands together to confront this new common threat.
“We have unfortunately heard of the emergence of a new terror group identified as ‘Lakurawa’, reportedly operating around Kebbi and Sokoto States in North-Western Nigeria. This development poses yet another threat to the safety and security of residents and has the potential to further destabilize an already vulnerable region if left unchecked.
“Reports reaching the CNG indicate that the Lakurawa group has begun establishing itself with intentions that appear to mirror the tactics of other violent organizations that have, over time, spread terror across the region.
“The CNG confirmed that this group has already begun creating an atmosphere of fear, disrupting local communities, and killing lives and livelihoods of the residents.
“The emergence of this group is particularly concerning given the historical and ongoing security challenges the northern region faces, including banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping.
“We reliably gathered that they give monetary incentives to youths in rural communities in Sokoto for the purpose of recruiting an army of youths into their fold.
