The acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, visited the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto on Sunday as part of efforts to combat the new terror group, Lukarawa.
Olukoyede ordered the troops to crush the new terror group which was reportedly inducing youths in the state into its fold.
The Defence Headquarters had last week identified Lukarawa as a new terror group operating in Kebbi and Sokoto States.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said the terror group is affiliated with jihadi factions in Mali and Niger, raising security concerns in the northwestern region of the country.
“The emergence of the group is linked to political instability in Mali and Niger, which has fuelled the spread of extremist elements into Nigeria. He explained that this group is a direct fallout of the political instability in these neighbouring countries,” he said.
Speaking with newsmen in the Masallaci community in the Tangaza Local Government Area, Oluyede called on the residents of the community to always give accurate and timely information to the troops to help them in the fight against insecurity.
“I am here to assess my troops. 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,” Oluyede stated.
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.”
It was learnt that the acting COAS visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and other relevant stakeholders in the state and also held talks with troops of Operation FASAN YANMA in order to motivate them.
Oluyede also visited troops in the Illela Local Government Area of the state where he held meetings with officers of the battalion in the state.
He also met with other security agents and emphasised the need to collaborate.
In a move to dislodge the terrorists, the Nigerian Army has deployed troops of Operation Fasan Yamma in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
A source in the 8 Division, NA, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the operation, explained that a signal from the headquarters had been received directing the troops to mobilise to the troubled area for clearance operations.
The source said the leadership of the military was working to ensure every part of the northwest was safe.
“Yes, we are on top of the situation, 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 officer assured.
A source in Tangaza LGA confirmed that the terror group had been in the area for over six years.
He said, “In November 2018, 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.”
The then caretaker Chairman of Tangaza local council, Maidamma Yari, had reportedly dismissed the allegation while admitting that some persons who arrived at the council from Niger Republic had helped push back the bandits operating in the area.
Yari debunked the report of the appearance of a new terror group in the local government.
“Some strange persons from the Niger Republic arrived at the local government a few weeks ago and their coming has helped in pushing back kidnappers who attempted to come into the local government from Zamfara State,’’ he noted.
Though the state police command promised to brief the media after investigating the sect, no information was released to the public.
A resident of Tangaza, Usman Alfadari, affirmed that the terror group had been operating in the area for over six years.
Speaking further, he stated, “For over two years now, 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 is 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 6km away from Gidan Madi here in Tangaza. They are also in Binji, Silame, Gudu local governments.
