The Nigerian Military authorities on Thursday November 7, 2024, officially admitted that the ranks of terrorist groups operating in the Northern part of the country have swollen, with a new entrant from the Niger Republic axis.
At a media briefing, Director Defence Information Edward Buba, a Major General, said the newest group “Lukarawas” capitalized on the loose military/defence corporation between Nigeria and the Niger Republic in the wake of the July 26,2023 military junta in the latter to establish its presence in the Sokoto/Kebbi axis of the North West .
The Defence spokesman noted that the operation of the nascent terrorist group began to gain currency following the instability that trailed the coup in the country’s West African neighbour .
“The terrorists took advantage of the gap in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions into remote areas in some North West states to spread their ideology.
“The group was accommodated by the locals who initially thought that the group meant well for them. However, this assistance unintentionally facilitated the group’s establishment in these areas”, Buba noted .
He informed that the group’s presence is visibly felt in States like Sokoto and Kebbi.
According to the Defence Spokesperson, the terrorist sect migrated from Niger Republic and Mali.
To halt further incursions by the group, the military, Buba stated, has enhanced its presence through intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and reconnaissance ISR operations with a view to locating and neutralizing the group members .
Continuing, General Buba also blamed that development on the vast areas of unmanned spaces, particularly, in the North West region of the country.
“The terror group has continued to take advantage of the vast under-governed areas to hide and evade troops as well as harass the locals”, he noted.
He, however, assured that the military is on top of the situation.
The Source reports that following the July 26, 2023 junta that ousted President Mohammed Bazoum from power, the ECOWAS led by Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, severed all forms of cooperation, including military, with the Coup leaders.
The disagreement also led to the closure of all land borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic for many months.
Although Nigeria has since rescinded the decision, normalcy is yet to fully return in the age long relationship between the two sister countries.
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