The Nigerian Army Defence Headquarters (DHQ), has also confirmed the emergence a new jihadist sect known as the ‘Lukarawas’ which has been terrorising residents of Sokoto State.
The state Deputy Governor, Isah Gobir was the first to raise the alarm over the emergence of the sect who are said to be operating in five local government areas of the state where they have imposed Islamic laws, taxes and levies.
Gobir had said that the heavily armed ‘Lakurawas’ have so far taken over Tangaza, Gudu, Ilela, Silame and Binji local councils of the state where they have imposed their own rules.
The state police command has also confirmed the existence of the group who are reportedly made up of foreigners mainly from Mali, Niger Republic, Sudan and other countries in the Sahel region.
The DHQ also confirmed the existence of the terror group on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja to brief newsmen on military operations in the past weeks.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, who addressed the parley, disclosed that the new terror group originated in the Republic of Niger after the recent coup, which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
He further explained that the terrorists began infiltrating northern areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States from the Niger Republic and Mali, particularly following the coup in Niger.
“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions into remote areas in some north-western states to spread their ideology,” Buba said.
“The terrorists were initially welcomed by locals who believed they had good intentions. However, the movement was not reported to the military and security agencies,” he added.
He however, assured that troops have sustained Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts to degrade the terrorists, adding that the group continued to exploit vast ungoverned areas to hide, evade troops, and harass locals but stated that troops were locating and eliminating the threat.
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