Lukarawas terrorists will be flushed out soon, says Ribadu

No room for them here

Troops intensify onslaught against invading terrorists

New terrorist group Lukarawas will have no foothold in Nigeria, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadau said yesterday.

He vowed that they will be flushed out sooner than later and not allowed to disturb the peace in the country.

Ribadu spoke for the first time on the group whose presence in Nigeria was made known last week by the Defence Headquarters, which said the terrorist migrated from the Sahel region, coming into the country through the border with Niger Republic.

They are settled on the fringes of Kebbi and Sokoto states.

The NSA expressed his mind in Abuja during the 2024 Comptroller -Generals of Customs (CGCs) Conference, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The President expressed his determination to end insecurity in the country to pave the way for economic recovery.

Ribadu said: “One, we are beginning to see the gains; what we call Tinubu gains. Hundreds of bandits are killed today, every day.

“Tinubu gains, you move everywhere in our own country today free of fear. Things are changing.

“This so-called Lakurawa or whatever you call them, they are making a mistake. Nobody ever dares Tinubu and wins. Nobody.

“They have come at a wrong time. Nobody has ever defeated Tinubu, and you are going to be defeated. We will kick you out of Nigeria.”

On the fleeing Boko Haram sect, he said: “Boko Haram today is running out. Today, they have moved to Chad. Most of them have moved to Chad and that is why the President of Chad declared war on them in the last one week.”

Ribadu said the bandits are surrendering to the military on a daily basis.

He stressed: “The bandits are running left, right. Every single day, people are surrendering. Even right now, we have places where we are receiving surrendered bandits.”

Speaking on the efforts of the Federal Government to battle insecurity, the NSA said a year and seven months after the president assumed office, the security situation in the country has improved.

He noted that an unprecedented synergy among the security agencies and the military had produced results.

Hailing the security agencies over the unity of purpose, the NSA said the joint efforts have led to the decimation of bandits on a daily basis, with most of them taking flights into no specific direction.

Lukarawas fleeing from Nigeria

The military onslaughts against Lakurawas in Kebbi and Sokoto States is yielding results.

The onslaught has led to the recovery of 38 cows rustled by the terrorists during their recent attack on Mera community in Augie Local Government Area, a source said.

According to the source, “the troops have swung into action, and already, 38 cows have been recovered from the terrorists. They abandoned the cows when the troops were closing up on them, and fled.

“The troops are still after them and we are sure they will take them out. The military is going to establish a base in the Mera community. With this, the activities of the terrorists will be tamed.”

The Chairman of Augie Local Government, Yahaya Mohammed Augie, told reporters in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, that the “swift actionby the military and other security agencies is now yielding the desired results.”

Also, the Director of Security in the Kebbi State Exco Office, AbdurRahman Zagga, said the outcome of the delegation sent by the governor to General Musa was being felt by the affected communities.

He said: “By the grace of God, they will succeed in fishing out the culprits and bringing them to book. The Kebbi Government will not rest until these people are brought to account.”

The Brigade Commander of 1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. TM Opurum, assured the troops of government’s commitment to their welfare.

He charged the soldiers to ensure that they flush the terrorists out of the state

The military had recently intensified its onslaughts on the terrorists after they invaded Mera town,  killing 15 people and rustling 100 cows.

Residents of Mera community said the group invaded the town as they were getting set for Juma’at.

Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen. Edward Buba told reporters that the onslaught was meant to flush out Lukarawas terrorists in Kebbi and Sokoto states.

Gen. Buba said. “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.”

The attack prompted Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede’s weekend visit to the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto.

Lt.-Gen. Oluyede told residents of Gongoro Masallachi of the importance of their community’s support to protect Nigeria’s territory.

The acting COAS ordered the troops to crush the new terror group, which has started inducing youths  into its fold.

Military will not relent, says CDS

The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, said the military will not relent in ensuring peace and security in the country in accordance with the mandate to rid Nigeria of terror.

He reiterated the military ‘s commitment to the anti-terror war when he received the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, and other members of the institute at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, the CDS lauded the institute’s support to the Armed Forces and “its relentless efforts at enlightening Nigerians about the military, particularly in securing the nation.”

“The CDS further stated that the military will continue to partner and work together with the institute as he assured that the AFN will not rest on its oars to work in tandem with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate of restoring peace and ensuring Citizens are safe in the country,” Gusau added.

Dr. Neliaku expressed his condolences to the military over the demise of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja.

He described the late COAS as a “true patriot and a hero” who served the nation with his whole heart.

Neliaku hailed the CDS for his professionalism and efforts in securing the country.

US Africa Command: Nigeria on right path

The United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) commended Nigeria’s approach to combating insecurity and commended the country’s strategic leadership in the West Africa sub-region.

The Commander of US AFRICOM, General Michael Langley, gave the commendation when he visited General Musa at the Defence Headquarters.

The US AFRICOM is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defence in Germany. It is responsible for US military operations, including fighting regional conflicts and maintaining military relations with 53 African nations, except Egypt.

Accompanied by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, General Langley said Nigeria’s strategic leadership role in West Africa has enhanced stronger cooperation in the fight against terrorism and other forms of cross-border crimes in West Africa.

He congratulated the CDS for his appointment as the Chairman of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff.