The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group, known as ‘Lukarawas,’ which has intensified security challenges in the northwestern region of the country. Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this during a military operations briefing in Abuja, reported News360 Nigeria.
The Lukarawas group reportedly infiltrated northern Sokoto and Kebbi States from the Republic of Niger, following a recent breakdown in military cooperation between the two countries due to Niger’s recent coup. According to Buba, joint border operations prior to the coup had been instrumental in containing terrorist activity, but the Lukarawas have exploited gaps in cooperation and difficult terrains to carry out incursions in remote areas of Nigeria’s northwest.
“The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some Northwestern states to spread their ideology,” Buba stated. Initially, local communities reportedly welcomed the group, misinterpreting their intentions and failing to report their movements to authorities.
Despite this new challenge, Major General Buba assured that Nigerian military forces are conducting sustained intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations to counter the threat. He emphasized that although the Lukarawas use under-governed regions to evade detection and intimidate local populations, troops are actively tracking and neutralizing their movements.
This development highlights the critical need for reinforced regional cooperation and heightened vigilance from local communities to prevent the establishment of new terror threats in vulnerable areas.
