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Tag: Lakurawa terrorists

  • Lakurawa terrorists kill two Customs officers, local in Kebbi

    Lakurawa terrorists kill two Customs officers, local in Kebbi

    Gunmen suspected to be Lakurawa terrorists have attacked and killed two Customs officers and another person at Bachaka, a border community in Argungu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Police Command, Suprintendent of Police Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the attack yesterday.

    He said the attack occurred the previous day but stated that the specific unit or formation of the slain Customs officers was yet to be determined.

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    ‘’Yes, there was an attack, which resulted in the killing of two yet-to-be-identified Customs officers and one native of Bachaka village,” he said.

    Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Sani Bello, who visited the scene, reaffirmed the commitment of security forces to tackling criminal elements, stating that the attackers’ actions were a sign of their weakening state due to sustained security operations.

    The attack occurred barely 24 hours after combined security forces neutralised two Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi.

  • Lakurawa terrorists’ and danger of mismanaging information

    Lakurawa terrorists’ and danger of mismanaging information

    • By Ya’u Mukhtar Madobi

    Sir: The emergence of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Northwest has added a new layer to the country’s complex security challenges, as these militants strengthen their foothold across communities in Kebbi and Sokoto states. That the defence and force headquarters, “formally” recognized Lakurawa as a terror organization, not only introduced the group to many Nigerians but also highlighted the potential dangers of mishandling information about such threats.

    The manner in which security agencies, media outlets, and social platforms have handled information on this new terror group highlights a significant issue that needs critical analysis. Sensationalized coverage is indeed giving the Lakurawa group visibility, emboldening them to further terrorize their host communities.

    Once considered mere herders, the Lakurawa group has escalated its activities, imposing taxes, preaching extremist ideologies, and assuming roles usually reserved for traditional rulers, such as mediation and arbitration. Surprisingly, within just days after the Nigerian military officially labelled them as terrorists, the Lakurawa sect initiated violent attacks in Kebbi State.

    On Friday, November 8, the group reportedly killed 15 people and rustled over 100 cows in Mera town, Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State. According to Bashir Isah Mera, a resident, “Initially, they didn’t kill; they only confiscated cows and asked owners to pay ‘Zakat’. This is their first attack in which they killed 15 people in our town.”

    Was it merely a coincidence that the group became more violent soon after achieving widespread media coverage? It is possible they are using this newfound visibility to instil fear in communities and signal their presence as players in Nigeria’s complex security challenges? As they gain recognition, their actions and influence appear to intensify.

    Reports reveal that their first significant attack was on a military base in Sokoto, where they killed three soldiers and set a patrol vehicle ablaze. Initially, their targets were government forces, vigilantes, and rival armed groups (i.e. bandits), but recent developments indicate that unarmed civilians are also now victims of their atrocities. It is hard to believe that the Lakurawa group once received invitations from local authorities, including the District Heads of Balle in Gudu LGA and Gongono in Tangaza LGA, both in Sokoto, to protect their communities against other bandits.

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    This connection suggests that some local leaders may have inadvertently enabled the group’s rise by legitimizing its presence. These complex dynamics underline the challenges in Nigeria’s security landscape, where communities, desperate for protection, sometimes turn to dangerous actors in the absence of adequate state intervention.

    In today’s interconnected world, fuelled by rapid information sharing, the way media reports on terror groups critically shapes the public’s perception and response. Sensationalized coverage of groups like Lakurawa inadvertently provides them with the visibility they seek, potentially encouraging further attacks. Publicizing details about the group’s activities can become an oxygen of publicity that these terrorists use to maintain a fearsome reputation.

    A paradigm shift is necessary. Security agencies must recognize the importance of handling sensitive information with discretion. Rather than publicly announcing the existence of groups like Lakurawa, there should be a careful, strategic approach to limit their exposure. If handled quietly and without fanfare, it may prevent these groups from gaining the visibility they currently enjoy.

    For the sake of national interest and security, some information is best kept confidential to protect citizens and prevent unnecessary panic or sensationalism. Publicizing every detail can inadvertently play into the hands of criminals who capitalize on fear and citizens’ low morale to perpetrate further violence. Moving forward, Nigeria’s security agencies should develop robust crisis communication strategies. Such strategies should aim to balance transparency with responsibility, sharing information only when necessary and in ways that do not strengthen criminal elements. By avoiding public fanfare, security agencies can effectively carry out their constitutional duties without giving terrorists an undue advantage.

    Furthermore, Nigeria’s media, along with security forces, must adopt a more thoughtful and measured approach to crisis communication. This approach will prevent terrorist groups like the Lakurawas from gaining power and notoriety, ultimately fostering a safer environment for Nigerian citizens.

    The Department of State Services (DSS), Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Police, and other security institutions must work collaboratively with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to address emerging threats to Nigeria’s security. The sooner this crisis is nipped in the bud, the better. As they say, a stitch in time saves nine!

    •Ya’u Mukhtar Madobi,

    Kano.

  • Lakurawa terrorists’ invasion of Nigeria

    Lakurawa terrorists’ invasion of Nigeria

    • By Mike Kebonkwu

    Another terrorists group berthing in the Northwest of Nigeria is one trouble too many. The people are already sedated with insecurity, and suffering from acute migraine from the combined onslaught from Boko Haram terrorists and bandits in the entire northern fringes. When an old woman falls twice on her way to the market, the wares in her basket can be counted. So everything should be done to delete the group with despatch.

    The entire country has become a war theatre from home grown terrorists and kidnappers. Killer herdsmen are laying waste swathe of land in the Middle Belt  disrupting  the agrarian lifestyle of the people; with Plateau, Benue and Kaduna states turning into killing fields.  “Unknown” gunmen, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) have almost set up a parallel government in the Southeast, collecting taxes, declaring sit-at-home and killing the commercial and entrepreneurial spirits of Ndigbo. The South-south is not yet weaned from the siege mentality of militancy, kidnapping, blood sucking cultists, Yahoo Plus (Ritualists), and internet fraudsters.  The Southwest is smarting from marauding herders, kidnappers and epidemic of ritual killings.  Unlike the other major ethnic nationalities, the Yoruba elites have wisely reined in the Odua’s Peoples’ Congress (OPC) which started off like an ethnic militia police.

    The police is completely overwhelmed by the internal security problems and have almost become part of the problem due to corruption and lack of purposeful leadership. 

    On the other hand, the security forces have been struggling to deal with insecurity which has run a ring round the entire country with little result.  To now hear and watch some posts on the social media though not verified of a heavily armed group with the name of Lakurawa in the Northwest again, it may well be a goodbye to our dear old Nigeria on the road to the dissolution.  There is elite’s lack of consensus on how to tackle the pervasive insecurity in the country.

    The emergence of this new group is a testimonial to failing security architecture and weak political structures that are compromised. Why are individuals and ethnic militias allowed to own offensive military grade weapons? Why is the government unable to disarm these individuals and groups? The Nigerian security should never have allowed the incubation of this new group because it sends a dangerous signal of a total loss of initiative and control of our political space as a country. 

    As far as ordinary Nigerians are concerned, rightly or wrongly, dealing with the security problems in the country lies squarely on the shoulders of the military. This is the time for the Armed Forces to do a self-critique and review of its methodology from the foundation; recruitment, training and armament. The military has to resist patronage and the interpenetration of the divisive political virus into its bloodstream; remaining neutral in discharge of its constitutional duties. While interface and synergy with other security agencies should be encouraged, the line must be drawn on operational matters.  Eagles and pigeons do not flock together. The doctrine of military training is offensive in all ramifications; there should be no mix-up. You cannot deploy civilians to fight along soldiers in the same theatre; it is a bad mix in military doctrine. 

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    We are militarizing the psyche of the people when we create and arm civilians and baptize it, “Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to operate with soldiers. 

    The Police and Civil Defence have their different roles and duties even in conflict areas, peculiar to their training. They are not trained like soldiers for offensive action.  At best, the Police and Civil Defence can take care of liberated areas and provide intelligence to the fighting force. When soldiers are deployed on the same platform fighting along CJTF, Police and Civil Defence in the same theatre, it will affect the delivery of its fire power in the face of the enemy; not to talk about discipline, command and control. By their training the Police and Civil Defence are to provide services for the civil populace and not really carrying offensive weapon as we are gradually militarizing them.

    The core of operation and fight against insecurity should be intelligence driven to locate the criminals and enemies in order to extract them by whatever means; not to dialogue, not to de-radicalize them.  That is for the clergy and human rights people. A soldier is trained to shoot and kill, and the enemies of the state and people, do not deserve any less fate.  Allowing non-state actors to collect taxes from communities, declaring sit at home and commercial kidnapping is an indication of state failure as is happening in the northern and eastern parts of the country. The government has allowed criminal elements with political connection to contests for space in the polity. 

    African brotherhood permits us to welcome kinsmen and accommodate strangers. This is not the same thing as giving sanctuaries to criminals, gangsters, invaders and foreign fighters no matter how close in blood and religion. We have tried to rationalize Boko Haram and banditry to be caused by poverty and neglect; with all due respect I beg to differ.  They are driven by politics and religious ideologies with franchise to international terrorists organizations; let us call a spade a spade!  If we fail to give the right prescription we will also miss the treatment.  With what is happening today in the security circle, Nigeria risk becoming like Somalia; you will say, God forbid! Look all around you, the signs are there; from Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna, down to south-eastern states. Poverty and neglect may have made recruitment process easier; but again that is a product of failure of the state.

    Banditry and kidnapping is pure criminality caused by greed.  We should not clothe it with the politics of poverty or illiteracy. It deserves measured response not justification otherwise we will pay a heavy price as we are paying already.   We should not be talking or discussing creating ministries for criminals to rehabilitate or de-radicalize them. 

    Again, one believes that the military has the capacity and capability to deal with the criminal elements destabilizing Nigeria but has not been able to exercise its full authority due political and sectarian tendencies hitherto alien to the armed forces. The military is not trained to dialogue with criminals and terrorists; that cannot be a 21st Century model or theory of warfare.  I do not know where we are copying this from! In any case, it will also be wrong to import concept lock-stock-and-barrel due to different environmental factors and culture.  Seemingly, we are having dearth of military thinkers in our part of the world because of ethno-religious politics. 

    This is why it is shocking when some apparently knowledgeable security and military experts come to speak, you begin to doubt the integrity and honesty of their postulations.  To deal with insecurity in Nigeria, we need kinetic force, period! We should focus on carrying the battles to the criminals and terrorists and disarm them. Let us stop the media hypes and statistics of casualties inflicted on these criminals; make the country safe for people to engage in their economic activities and for farmers to go back to farm. It is not just the northern fringes; kidnappers and terrorists make it impossible for people even in Delta State to engage in farming activities.   

    There is a viral video of the new emerging group Lakurawa holding meeting somewhere in Kebbi State, not verified.  The military has come out with statements confirming the existence of the group.  If you allow this group to settle down, then it is bye-bye to Nigeria.  Those who want the government to dialogue with terrorists or defend actions of bandits and other criminal elements are collaborators or enemies of the state.  Those defending their human rights have some interest to serve; local or international.  We are always parroting human rights for criminals and terrorists when their activities appear remote to us, but when someone close to us becomes a victim we realize the beasts are just fit candidates to be neutralised. 

    The fact that these groups emerge formidable and well-armed clearly shows the failure of government agencies and institutions responsible for the security of our country; no politics intended!  How did the military grade weapons get into the hands of these elements unnoticed?  We are not just telling ourselves the truth.  The military should stay true to its role and re-calibrate to deal decisively with the security problems in the country and get rid of these foreign jihadists.  We are living in unusual times!

    •Kebonkwu Esq, an Abuja-based attorney, writes via mikekebonkwu@yahoo.com