The frightening news of the emergence of Lukarawa terror group in Sokoto and Kebbi states has further raised question on when the war against banditry in the North will end. The emergence of this deadly group has taken many northerners by surprise. It elicited doubts about the validity of the news until the Defence Headquarters confirmed the story.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major. General Edward Buba, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on military operations on Thursday in Abuja. Buba stated that the new terror group originated from the Republic of Niger after the recent coup, which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and that country.
Following their emergence, Lukarawa hit Mera community in Augie local government area in Kebbi state, killing 15 people and carting away 100 herds of cattle.
Lukarawa terror group emerged at a time the federal government is recording great success in the war against insecurity particularly Boko Haram terrorists and bandits through deployment of combat ready troops to Zamfara, Katsina and other bandit infested states.
Though, our military has a history of resilience and persistence in the war front and will undoubtedly flush this armed group in no distant time, their emergence is a set back on the war against terrorism in Nigeria.
It is not an understatement that banditry in the North has wrecked great havoc resulting in the los of thousands of lives and the displacement of hundreds of farming communities. This is the reason the sudden emergence of Lukarawa created fears among many northerners.
In recent times, Sokoto communities had recorded pockets of attacks believed to have been carried out by bandits from Zamfara forest. The same attacks were violently carried out on Kebbi border communities.
While Sokoto and Kebbi communities have enjoyed considerable peace, the emergence of this armed group who are operating in forest will shatter the fragile peace.
It has been observed that the Lukarawa terror group has been inducing unemployed youths with money to join them. With the high rate of unemployment and poverty in Sokoto and Kebbi states, the teeming youths are susceptible to manipulations and easy recruitment.
This calls for quick response from government to stop gullible youths from the temptation of joining the deadly group. Northern governors should stop playing the ostrich and address the underlying causes of insecurity in the region.
It is quite unfortunate that the once bubbling Northern Nigeria has become a fertile ground for all manner of insurgents. Unless the twin evil of poverty and unemployment are fully addressed and good governance at the grassroots is activated, Northern Nigeria will continue to witness the resurrection of violent armed groups.
If Lukarawa terrorists have emerged due to the fallout between Niger Republic military junta and the Nigerian government, which led to the collapse of the joint-patrol between the two countries and make our borders porous, security agencies should intensify the fight across our borders communities.
The renewed attacks on farming communities in Sokoto and Kebbi states by Lukarawa terror group should not be treated with kids’ glove. The Nigerian government should reach out and appeal to the Niger military junta for military cooperation and joint patrol.
With the emergence of Lukarawa terrorists, it seems there are more similar groups with violent ideologies ready to emerge. It behoves on the government to beam its searchlight through intelligence gathering in order to defeat Lukarawa and fish out more terror group living in Northern Nigeria and beyond.
