New terror group emerges in Nigeria, says military authority

The Nigeria military has disclosed emergence pf a new terror group in Northwestern Nigeria, terrorising residents of rural communities, adding that the terrorists began incursions into northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Niger Republic.

Penpushing reports that the Director of Defence Media Operations,Major-General  Edward Buba, who briefed journalists in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory(FCT)  explained that the terror group emerged after the recent coup in neighbouring Niger that frustrated the partnership between the militaries of the two countries.

The Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters said the terror group is known as ‘Lukarawas’ in the northwestern part of the country, adding that prior to the coup, there were joint border operations with Nigerien security forces which kept the terrorists at bay.

“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,” he said.

Penpushing further reports that Buba, said that the group was accommodated by the locals who initially thought that the group meant well for them, adding that they failed to report the movement to the military and security agencies.

The Major-General, however, assured that Nigerian troops had sustained intelligences surveillance, and reconnaissance to degrade the terrorists, stressing 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.

Penpushing also reports that the Major-General stated that the troops are locating them and eliminating the threat explaining that Lukarawas joins other terror groups, locally called bandits, operating in north-west of the country

The coup that sacked President Mohamed Bazoum and installed a junta, while the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), led by Nigeria, imposed sanctions on Niger following the coup.

Penpushing reports that the sanctions were later lifted, while Niger thereafter pulled out of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and has halted military partnerships with Nigeria including its membership of the Multi-National Joint Task Force that also includes Chad and Benin.

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