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Director, Media Operations, DHQ,, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba
The Defence Headquarters has, on Thursday, declared nine more terrorists wanted.
Unlike previous declarations, these individuals were named without the inclusion of a bounty.
The wanted terrorists are Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba, also known as Abu Muhammed, Usman Kanin Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, BA Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.
The DHQ also confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as ‘Lukarawas.’ The group is primarily based in the northwestern part of Nigeria.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba revealed this while briefing journalists on the military operations in Abuja.
Buba explained that the new terror group emerged from the Republic of Niger following the coup that led to the breakdown of military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
The terrorists began infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi States, primarily from the Niger Republic and Mali, particularly after the coup in Niger.
He said that before the coup, there were joint border operations with Nigerien security forces, which had kept the terrorists at bay.
“This new group that has penetrated the northwestern part of the country, known as the Lukarawas, is affiliated with ISIS in the Sahelian region. It is indeed the first attempt by Sahelian jihadists to establish a foothold in our country.
“As I mentioned earlier, they were kept at bay while we had joint cross-border operations with the Republic of Niger. However, after the coup took place in Niger, they exploited the breakdown in cooperation between the two countries, which has now been restored. They took advantage of this breakdown to make incursions through difficult terrain into remote locations on the outskirts of the northwestern part of our country, including some of those states.
“We know exactly where they are as I speak to you. Now, what are the issues? When they arrived, the locals recognised that they had strangers in their midst. Upon recognising this, the proper course of action would have been to alert the authorities.”
Buba criticised residents of the North West for harbouring the terrorists and failing to report their movements to the military and other security agencies.
“They embraced them, thinking that they would protect them from terrorists or other threats, allowing them to settle in and spread their ideology. Having settled in and gained a foothold, they started imposing levies on the people. It was only at that point that the locals felt the need to notify us.
“That is not the time to notify. You should report immediately when you see something strange. Winning this war without the support of the people is impossible. They came in the same way as Boko Haram. They tell the men to grow long beards, the women to wear hijabs, and impose other such practices.
“They are easy to spot because of these traits. I continue to urge Nigerians to help us to help you. Now that we know where they are, we are finding them and flushing them out.”
He assured that troops had sustained Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance efforts to degrade the terrorists.
Buba added that the terror group continued to exploit vast, under-governed areas to hide, evade troops, and harass the locals.
According to him, troops are locating and eliminating the threat.
