The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the emergence of a new terror group known as ‘Lukarawas’ in Sokoto and Kebbi States.
It said the new terror group is exacerbating insecurity in the North West region.
The Military High Command disclosed this through the Director of Defence Media Operations Maj-Gen Edward Buba during a press conference at the Defence Headquarters Abuja.
Buba said that the new terror group emerged from the Republic of Niger after the coup that led to the breakdown of military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
He said the terrorists began incursion into northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi States from the Niger Republic and Mali axis, particularly after the coup in Niger Republic.
According to him, prior to the coup, there were joint border operations with Nigerien security forces which kept the terrorists at bay.
He said: “The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some North Western states to spread their ideology.”
The defence spokesman said that the group was accommodated by the locals who initially thought it meant well for them, adding they failed to report the movement to the military and security agencies.
Buba assured troops had sustained Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) to degrade the terrorists.
He added that the terror group had continued to take advantage of the vast under-governed areas to hide and evade troops as well as harass the locals.
According to him, troops are locating them and eliminating the threat.
