The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has raised an alarm over the rise of a new armed terrorist group, Lakurawa, in the North-West states of Kebbi and Sokoto. The group has sparked widespread concern, with the ACF urging the government to take swift and decisive action to prevent its expansion.
The emergence of Lakurawa was confirmed by the Defence Headquarters, which disclosed the group’s activities in the northwestern region of Nigeria.
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, briefed the press on Thursday, revealing that the new terror group originated in the Republic of Niger, following the recent coup that disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and its neighbor.
However, just 48 hours after the confirmation, Lakurawa militants attacked Mera town in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Friday, killing at least 15 people. Local community leader Bashir Mera reported that the attackers struck while people were preparing for Jumaat prayers, and also stole over 100 cattle during the assault.
This attack has raised alarm over the growing insecurity in the North-West, which is rapidly becoming a focal point for terrorism in Nigeria.
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The ACF, in a statement on Sunday, described the emergence of Lakurawa as a “dangerous and alarming” development, underscoring the need for urgent action.
“Lakurawa, at this early stage of its emergence, must not be tolerated or allowed to entrench itself in our communities through benign neglect or kid-glove treatment, as was the case with Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, and banditry in the northeast, north-central, and northwest regions, respectively,” the ACF’s Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said.
Muhammad-Baba stressed that this is the critical moment for security agencies to act decisively, mobilizing all available resources to combat the growing threat. “This is the moment for our security agencies to act swiftly and decisively, using all available human and material resources, without hesitation,” he said. “We must leave no one in doubt about the national resolve to deal decisively with any threat to Nigeria’s peace and stability.”
In its statement, the ACF also called for enhanced intelligence gathering and the use of local networks to track and disrupt the activities of Lakurawa. The forum urged the authorities to engage traditional and religious leaders, as well as local hunters, vigilante groups, and influential community members, in securing their areas.
Further, the ACF called for the revitalization of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in cooperation with neighboring countries, especially Niger Republic, and for the training of local communities in early warning systems and security response strategies. This, the forum believes, will foster greater support for national security agencies in the fight against terrorism.
As the threat from Lakurawa grows, the ACF’s call for swift and coordinated action emphasizes the urgent need to prevent further escalation of terror in the northwest region of Nigeria.