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The Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as ‘Lukarawas’ in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
It, however, blamed the residents for accommodating the sect, which it said migrated from Niger Republic and Mali.
Also on Thursday, the DHQ declared nine more terrorists wanted.
Unlike in the past, the terrorists were declared wanted without a bounty.
They are Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba aka Abu Muhammed, Usman Kanin Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, B.A. Sulhu and Idris Taklakse.
The PUNCH reports that the Sokoto State police command, on Wednesday, confirmed the presence and operations of members of a sect, known as Lukarawas, in five local government areas of the state.
The Director of the Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, speaking during the briefing of newsmen on the operations of the military in Abuja, said the new terror group emerged from the Republic of Niger, after the coup that led to the breakdown of military cooperation between the two countries.
He said the terrorists began incursion into northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Niger Republic and Mali axis, particularly after the coup in the Niger Republic.
According to him, before the coup, there were joint border operations with Nigerien security forces, which kept the terrorists at bay.
He said, “This new group that has penetrated the northwestern part of the country, known as the Labrawas, are affiliated to ISIS in the Sahelian region. And it is indeed the first attempt of the Sahelian jihadists to have a football in our country.
“As I mentioned earlier, they were kept at bay all this while when we had joint cross-border operations with the Republic of Niger.
“However, when the coup took place in Niger, they took advantage of the breakdown in cooperation between both countries to make incursions through the difficult terrain to remote locations around the outskirts of the northwestern part of our country, some of those states.
“The emergence of the group is linked to political instability in Mali and Niger, which has fuelled the spread of extremist elements into Nigeria.
“We know exactly where they are as I speak to you. Now, what are the issues? When they came in, the locals recognised that they had strangers in their midst.
“Recognising that you have strangers in your midst, the proper thing to do is to let the authorities know.”
Buba slammed residents of the North West for accommodating the terrorists and failing to report their movements to the military and other security agencies.
“But they embraced that, thinking that they were going to sort of protect them from terrorists or whatever, and allow them to settle in and spread their ideology.
“Having settled in and gained the football, they started imposing certain levies and whatever on the people. And the people now said, like, what’s going on here? It was at that point that they felt the need to notify the authorities.”
Maj Gen Buba said, “That is not the time to notify. You notify immediately you see something strange. So, winning this war clearly without the support of the people is impossible.
“They came in just the same way we have something like Boko Haram. They’re telling you the men should keep the long beards. They’re telling you the women must wear hijab and whatever.
“They’re telling you the men must have jump-up trousers and so many other things like that. So, they’re easy to find based on their traits.
“So, I continue to say that and beg Nigerians to help us to help you. Now that we know, we’re finding them. We’re flushing them out.”
He assured Nigerians that troops had sustained intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to degrade the terrorists.
Buba 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 were locating them and eliminating the threat.
Maj Gen Buba added that troops eliminated 481 terrorists, apprehended 741 suspects and rescued 492 kidnapped hostages in different operations across the country in October.
He said the troops also recovered 480 weapons and 9,026 assorted ammunition, comprising 263 AK-47 rifles, 81 locally fabricated guns, 91 Dane guns and 76 pump action guns.
He added that troops also recovered 5,683 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,944 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 642 cartridges, 160 assorted arms and 1,526 assorted ammunition during the month.
According to him, troops had done a tremendous job of significantly dismantling the terror groups across the country in various theatres of operations.
“Our strategy remains to undermine the ability of these terror groups and their cohorts.
“Troops conducted simultaneous strikes on several terrorist enclaves and hideouts across the country.
“The Air Force carried out bombardments and air interdiction on these terrorist hideouts and enclaves with precision, thereby diminishing the fighting capabilities of these terrorists.
“On the whole, even as the armed forces mourn the tragic passing away of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen T.A. Lagbaja, we will not allow his passing to derail our focus to destroy the terrorists.
“We are rather inspired by his actions on the battlefield as a war commander as well as his strong desire to defeat the terrorists to end the war,” he said.
In the North-East, Buba said the troops of Operation Hadin Kai conducted synchronised offensives between the air force and ground forces striking and dislodging terrorists from their hideouts and strongholds.
He said the exerted military pressure on the terrorists in the North East resulted in the killing of 198 terrorists, the apprehending of 166 suspects and the rescue of 156 kidnapped hostages.
He added that the troops recorded 257 surrendered BH/ISWAP terrorists’ combatants and their families as well as recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition.
In the North Central, Buba said the troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke neutralised 50 violent extremists, apprehended 202 and rescued 165 kidnapped hostages during the month.
In the North West, the defence spokesman said the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji remained focused on their mission to create a conducive and stable security environment for agricultural activities and other forms of socio-economic activities in the zone.
He said the troops neutralised 163 terrorists, apprehended 82 suspects and rescued 80 kidnapped hostages.
“Additionally, troops recovered 121 AK-47 rifles, 32 fabricated guns, 53 assorted arms, 2,134 rounds of 7.62mm special, 1,015 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 75 assorted ammunition.
“Also, troops of Operation Whirl Punch neutralised 30 terrorists, arrested 111 suspects and rescued 52 kidnapped hostages.
“They recovered nine AK47 rifles, 16 assorted arms, 160 rounds of 7.62mm special, 43 rounds of 7.62mm NATO and 36 assorted ammunition,” he said.
