The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to tackle the emergence of a new terrorist group called Lakurawa around the Sokoto-Kebbi axis.
CNG particularly charged local, states, federal governments, communities, religious and traditional authorities to join hands together to confront the threat.
In a statement on by the group on Monday, CNG national coordinator Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi said, “We have heard of the emergence of a new terror group identified as ‘Lakurawa’ reportedly operating around Kebbi and Sokoto states in North-west Nigeria. This development poses yet another threat to the safety and security of residents and has the potential to further destabilise an already vulnerable region, if left unchecked.”
According to CNG, Lakurawa group has begun establishing itself with intentions that appear to mirror the tactics of other violent organisations that have, over time, spread terror across the region.
“CNG confirmed that this group has already begun to create an atmosphere of fear, disrupting local communities, and killing lives and livelihoods of the residents.
“The emergence of this group is worrisome given the historical and ongoing security challenges the northern region faces, including banditry, insurgency and kidnapping.
“We reliably gathered that they give monetary incentives to youths in rural communities in Sokoto for the purpose of recruiting an army of youths into their fold.
“We urge the federal government, security agencies, state and local government authorities to take decisive and proactive measures to address this threat while it is still in its infancy,” the CNG official said.
CNG therefore, called on the federal government to significantly raise the number of troops currently combating insecurity in the North-west as their current figure of about 13,000 is not just inadequate but also stretches their power and will to thoroughly eliminate the terrorists destroying the region.
It said, “Regrettably, this insufficiency of combatants on ground in the frontline states had resulted in resurgence of attacks and killings in many LGAs across the three states such as Tsafe, Gusau, Funtua, Jibia and Sokoto among others.”
“CNG, therefore, recommends that at least 40,000 fully combatant troops be deployed to the North-west to be complemented by the local community security watch to confront the challenge head-on while calling on security agencies to deploy intelligence, surveillance and tactical operations in affected areas to identify the group’s network.
It extends its heartfelt condolences to the government and good people of Kebbi state over the killing of 15 persons in Augie local government area.
“We pray that may Allah rest their souls and hasten the healing of the wounded,” he said.
The CNG implored Kebbi to adopt strategies of engaging Community Watch Corps to complement the conventional security forces that its neighbours such as Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara have adopted to ensure a more robust and coordinated approach in addressing the common threat.
In the same vein, the CNG also appealed to the residents and communities of Kebbi, Sokoto, and neighboring states to cooperate closely with security forces because community support is vital in gathering information, identifying suspicious activities and helping security agencies in their operations.