The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group, known as ‘Lukarawas,’ which is intensifying insecurity in Northwestern Nigeria. This development was disclosed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
Maj.-Gen. Buba revealed that the group originated in the Republic of Niger and began incursions into the northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi States following the recent coup in Niger, which led to the breakdown of security cooperation between Nigeria and Niger. Previously, joint border operations between the two countries’ forces helped contain such threats, but the instability has now created an opportunity for the Lukarawas group to infiltrate Nigeria.
According to Buba, the terrorists have exploited challenging terrains and under-governed areas, allowing them to evade Nigerian troops and spread their ideology in remote communities. Initially, local residents welcomed the group, mistakenly believing they posed no threat, and failed to report their movements to security agencies.
Buba assured the public that the military has intensified Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations to track and neutralize the group. Despite the challenges posed by the region’s geography, he noted that troops are actively locating and working to eliminate the threat posed by the Lukarawas.
