Defense Headquarters Moves to Halt Lukarawa’s Recruitment Drive

Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters takes action to stop Lukarawa’s recruitment efforts, aiming to curb the group’s influence and protect national security. 

The Defence Headquarters has announced that the new terrorist group, Lukarawa, is initiating a recruitment drive to enhance its combat strength.

However, it stated that the military is aware of the group’s recruitment activities and is collaborating closely with other security agencies and the state government to stop these efforts.

Last Thursday, the DHQ confirmed that a new terrorist group called ‘Lukarawa’ has emerged in the northern region, operating in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Maj Gen Edward Buba, the Director of Media Operations, indicated that following the coup in Niger Republic, terrorists started to infiltrate northern regions of Sokoto and Kebbi states from areas along the Niger Republic and Mali axis.

He held the residents of the area responsible for providing shelter to the terrorists and not informing the military or other security agencies about their activities.

On Friday, the newly emerged terror group launched an attack on Mera town in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State. This assault occurred as residents were getting ready for Jumaat prayers and resulted in at least 15 fatalities while over 100 cows were stolen.

In an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, Buba mentioned that the terrorists were using sermons and welfare packages to lure in the youth.

He mentioned that the terror group was also utilizing social media to enhance its recruitment efforts.

Buba mentioned that the group is utilizing social media platforms to promote sermons and attract new recruits with appealing welfare packages.

Regardless, we are aware of these plans and are collaborating with other security forces and the state government to prevent the terrorist’s actions.

Mike Ejiofor, a former Director of the Department of State Services, contended that even though the group had been active since 2018, the country’s intelligence agencies have been keeping track of their activities.

He stated that the sect’s members were too few to pose a significant threat to national security.

He stated that it should be evident this group has been present since 2018; it’s not a new formation. The community leader brought them in to assist with fighting, and the group’s origins trace back to Nassala when it was established in Niger Republic. Following his death, the Nigerien government struggled to exert control over them.

They were invited to help in Sokoto, and although they arrived there, the Sokoto State government eventually persuaded them to leave through negotiation using a non-kinetic approach.

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Some of them stayed and have been working with a newly formed team. Therefore, it isn’t as though this is an entirely new terrorist group that has recently appeared.

They’ve been there, and the intelligence agencies have been monitoring their activities. I can’t provide an exact number at this moment, but these individuals do not pose a significant threat to our national security.

“However, this does not mean we will abandon them. The intelligence community is also monitoring their activities.”

Ejiofor emphasized the need for security agencies to enhance their intelligence efforts, while also urging communities to collaborate with these agencies in order to help eradicate the terror group.

He acknowledged that there might be recruitment efforts underway, and noted that intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on these activities to prevent them from becoming established in the area.

“There’s no need to panic, but it’s important not to downplay any security threats in the country. We can achieve a lot through community support.”

He held the community responsible for not reporting the bandits’ activities.

Whether they report or not, they’ll face trouble. Therefore, the best course of action is to support the government.

“They gather taxes from these individuals and require them to raise funds, among other responsibilities. This places them in a difficult situation.”

He suggested that the most effective course of action would be to enhance intelligence and operational efforts by security agencies to ensure they are controlled before further spread.

Timothy Avele, a security expert, mentioned that information from open sources indicates the group has been operating for six years.

In certain Kebbi communities, they are actually imposing levies, managing judicial cases, and even obstructing emirs from executing their legitimate responsibilities.

This means they have been in existence but were unknown to the press and general public.

“If confirmed, this indicates that the security agencies, particularly the DSS and police intelligence department, did not fulfill their primary responsibility of gathering and analyzing strategic intelligence.”

He mentioned that due to the country’s hardships, it would be challenging to halt the group’s recruitment efforts.

He stated that the situation could only be halted if their funding sources were targeted and blocked, their top leaders and sponsors (both local and foreign) were eliminated, and specific cyber operations were conducted.