In response to a wave of violent attacks by the extremist group Lukarawa, the Nigerian Army has intensified its operations in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
The acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, recently visited the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army in Sokoto to boost morale and strategize with troops on ground.
The visit comes as part of broader efforts to dismantle Lukarawa, a new terror group actively recruiting local youths and spreading influence through financial incentives.
Lukarawa’s rise has raised security alarms across Nigeria’s northwest.
Tied to extremist elements in Mali and Niger, the group has been leveraging the region’s political instability to expand its presence, according to Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations.
Speaking on the threat, he stated, “The emergence of the group is linked to political instability in Mali and Niger, which has fuelled the spread of extremist elements into Nigeria. He explained that this group is a direct fallout of the political instability in these neighbouring countries.”
During his visit, Lt. Gen. Oluyede appealed to locals in Tangaza, a community in Sokoto’s Tangaza Local Government Area, to support the army’s efforts by sharing accurate and timely information.
He said, “I am here to assess my troops. You see, there will always be challenges. The issue is how we react to these challenges. One of the reasons I am here is to charge up my soldiers to rise to the challenge, and that we shall do.
“My charge to the community people is for them to support us. If we don’t get their support we can’t succeed. And if we don’t succeed that means the country won’t be secured. We need the support of Nigerians so that we can have economic prosperity in the country,” Oluyede stated.
Speaking further, he stated, “I am here to see my soldiers to assess their state of readiness and to charge them to continue to do what they have been doing best to secure the country in general.”
