Military onslaught to flush out members of the new terror group Lukarawas is being stepped up, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) confirmed yesterday.
Director of Defence Media Operations Maj-Gen. Edward Buba, told The Nation that the onslaught is to take out the Lukarawas terrorists now using Kebbi and Sokoto states as haven.
Gen. Buba gave no further details on the military operations against the group, whose incursion into the two Northwest states of Sokoto and Kebbi State was announced last Thursday by the DHQ.
Barely a day after the announcement, the terror group struck in Mera, a community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State and killed 15 people.
According to Gen. Buba, the Lukarawas is linked to Islamic State (ISISI) and its members crossed into Nigeria from Niger Republic.
He added that when the group settled in areas between Sokoto and Kebbi, the people did not raise the alarm or report to security operatives or the military until they started their nefarious activities.
Gen. Buba said: “Lukarawas is affiliated with ISIS in the Sahelian region, particularly Mali and Niger Republics. And this is the first time the Sahelian jihadists are making an incursion into our country.
“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger, and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some North Western states to spread their ideology.”
Residents of Augie who confirmed the attack on their community, said the group invaded the town as people were getting set for Jumat on Friday and made away with over 100 cattle.
The attack prompted Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede weekend’s visit to 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto.
During the visit, Lt.-Gen. Oluyede told residents of Gongoro Masallachi of the importance of their community’s support to the protection of Nigeria’s territory.
The acting COAS ordered the troops to crush the new terror group which was reportedly inducing youths in the state into its fold.
Echoing the order, the DHQ spokesmansaid troops have launched an onslaught to fish out and destroy the terrorists.