Incursion of ISIS-backed terrorist group Lukarawa into the Northern part of Kebbi and Sokoto states got the Senate’s attention yesterday.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) last month alerted the nation to the presence of the deadly group in the country after sneaking in through Niger Republic border.
A few days after, the group struck in Kebbi State, but troops responded swiftly, dislodging and neutralising many of them.
The Red Chamber, after a debate on the activities of the terrorists, charged troops to not only curb their further incursion into the country but should eliminate them.
Senator Waziri Tambuwal, immediate past governor of Sokoto State, said this is not the first time that the group is coming into the country.
According to him, troops took them out when they came into Sokoto State during his tenure as governor.
Also yesterday, the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, ordered that troops must step up action against terrorists and bandits without looking back.
After commending the military for their prompt response to the Lukarawa insurgency, the Senate resolved as follows:
• To maintain their vigilance in the communities infiltrated by Lukarawa;
• That the Army should work with other security agencies and the communities to halt further incursions by the group;
• The Federal Government (Executive) is enjoined to send an assessment team to communities attacked by the foreign insurgents.
The resolutions followed the consideration and adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).
The motion was titled: “Urgent need for the Federal Government to take stringent measures to stop the infiltration of a group of violent terrorists known as Lukarawa from entrenching themselves in some Northwestern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states.”
In his lead debate, Abdullahi recalled that the group had raided and displaced some communities, before it invaded Mera in Augie Local Government of Kebbi State on November 8.
He added that more than 20 people were killed by the insurgents.
“This motion notes the prompt response of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces who despatched a well-armed military response squad that was able to dislodge the terrorists and secured the release of herds of cattle and other livestock that were stolen by the terrorists,” Abdullahi said.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin said the development represented a new dimension to insecurity in that area.
He said: “It is sad that while our security agencies are working very hard to deal with the current situation that we have or the situation that was there before these people came into Kebbi State;
when the security agents are working very hard, day in and day out, sacrificing their lives to deal with the situation that was hitherto occurring in that state, now, a new dimension has come to exacerbate the problem of insecurity.
“This was how Boko Haram started. Those guys came from other parts of the world – different parts of the West Africa sub-region into Borno State.
“ Appropriate action was not taken at the right time. So, they got emboldened, and the rest is now history. The people of Borno State and the entire Northern part of this country were badly affected.
“Now, we urge our security agencies to double their efforts.
“I condole the families of those who have lost their loved ones and those who have lost their properties due to the actions of these foreigners who have come to invade our country.’’
Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) said the Federal Government must halt further incursion by the terrorists.
Tambuwal recalled that when he was governor , the group invaded Sokoto State in 2018, but was dislodged.
He said: “We need to nip this in the bud. It is too serious for us to take it lightly because these people are armed with sophisticated weapons. I believe they even have some international connections.
“There is the need for the Federal Government to take this matter seriously, otherwise, it will snowball as did banditry from Zamfara into virtually every part of Northwest and Northcentral.”
Step up action against terrorists
Lt-Gen. Oluyede charged officers and soldiers on the frontline to be fearless in their battle to rout terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals in the country.
He gave the charge after handing over the Command of the Infantry Corps to Major-General Abdul-Khalifa Ibrahim at Jaji Military Cantonment, Kaduna State yesterday.
Lt. General Oluyede was the commander of the Nigerian Army’s infantry corps until he was appointed acting COAS on October 30.
The Acting COAS told the troops after handing over to Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim, that as soldiers and officers, they must be courageous and never “turn your backs’’ on the non-state actors whose primary goal is to make the nation unsafe.
Gen. Oluyede said the good news remains President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to prioritise their welfare and that of their families.
He said: “We are soldiers and the act of soldiering we must do. We have to do our job.
“I know that Nigerian soldiers are equal to the task and once they make up their minds to solve a problem, they will solve it. So, you must promise me that you will end the security problems of Nigeria.
“You must not run away from battles, because when you do that, you would be turning your back to enemies and then, you will become a target.
‘’These people disturbing our country are cowards; you must not run away from them.
“You must make up your mind to either be a soldier or go home. Therefore, you must be fearless, you must be bold to face adversaries and make Nigeria safe.”
Lt-Gen. Oluyede assured Nigerians that the Army under his command would go all out for criminal elements and make Nigeria a more secure nation.
Maj. Gen. Ibrahim applauded the Acting COAS for moving the Infantry Corps forward.
While pledging to lead the Corps with integrity, courage, honour, and utmost dedication, he promised to key into Lt.-Gen. Oluyede’s vision for the Army.
The Infantry Corps is a branch of the Nigerian Army that specialises in ground combat. Infantry soldiers are trained to fight on foot, using small arms and other weapons to engage and defeat enemies. Their duties include: holding ground, conducting patrols, providing security, and engaging in direct combat with enemy forces.