DHQ moves to stop lukarawa’s recruitment drive

Ogechukwu UkekweNovember 13, 2024

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Troops Killed 974 Terrorists, Rescued 466 Hostages in February - DHQ In its determination to end terrorism and insecurity across the country, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says troops killed 974 terrorists, apprehended 621, and rescued 466 hostages in February 2024. Director of Defence Media Operations, DMO Major General Edward Buba, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing Defence Correspondents on the update on the ongoing Military Operations by the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) and other security agencies in the various theatres of operations across the six geo-political zones of the country against insurgency activities He said that during the month under review, the troops in addition recovered 1,573 assorted weapons and 23,345 assorted ammunition and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum of over $8 billion (N8,006,996,894.00). According to him, “troops conducted synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces on terrorist enclaves, killing a significant number of them. It is possible to say with significant certainty that these strikes have had a significant adverse impact on the terrorists ” The focus of the armed forces is to conduct their operations in support of national security interests. Consequently, in February, troops recorded significant successes in theatres across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country. ” It is important to state that, in February 2024, troops recorded the following: neutralised 974 terrorists, arrested 621 of them, and rescued 466 kidnapped hostages. Furthermore, troops ” He explained that the breakdown for February included and was not limited to the following: 640 AK47 rifles, 248 locally fabricated guns, 93 pump action guns, 168 Dane guns, 15,120 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 6,102 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 512 rounds of 9mm, and 2,132 live cartridges. According to him, others are 8,993,245 litres of stolen crude oil, 1,062,635 litres of illegally refined AGO, 18,950 litres of DPK, and 45,950 litres of PMS, among other items. ADVERTISING He warned that if the terrorist groups refused to come to the table in peace, the armed forces would have no other option than to continue to punish them with overwhelming military force in addition to the recently acquired additional air platform to further enhance troops’ lethal capabilities. He added that contrary to the opinion of some, troops were making significant strides and recording notable successes in operations across the country, stressing that, ‘though it might not seem so to some, the fact remains that remarkable progress is being made”. While urging citizens to endure today’s pain for tomorrow’s gain, he said, ” We should take solace in knowing that. It is all in a bit to make Nigeria great again. We can all begin making Nigeria great again by taking on the Celebrate Nigeria Challenge. — Edward Buba Director Defence Media Operations Major General

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that the newly emerged terrorist group, Lukarawa, has begun recruiting new members to strengthen its operations. The military, however, assured the public that it is closely monitoring the group’s recruitment efforts and is working in coordination with other security agencies and the state government to disrupt their activities.

Last Thursday, the DHQ reported the emergence of Lukarawa, a terror group operating primarily in the northern regions of Sokoto and Kebbi states. The group is believed to have infiltrated the region from the Niger Republic and Mali, particularly following the recent coup in Niger.

Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, Director of Media Operations at DHQ, highlighted that the group has gained a foothold in Sokoto and Kebbi states, blaming local residents for harboring the terrorists and failing to report their presence to the authorities. On Friday, Lukarawa militants launched an attack on Mera town in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The attack occurred while locals were preparing for Jumaat prayers, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people and the theft of over 100 cows.

In an interview with the media on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Buba explained that the terrorists are using a combination of sermons, welfare packages, and social media to recruit young people. He confirmed that the military is aware of these tactics and is working closely with other security forces and the state government to prevent the group from gaining more members.

“The group is utilizing social media platforms to spread their message, offering sermons and welfare packages to attract recruits,” Buba said. “We are fully aware of these activities and are actively working with other agencies to stop their recruitment efforts.”

Former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, noted that while Lukarawa has been in operation since 2018, the group’s numbers remain relatively small, and they do not yet pose a major threat to national security.

Ejiofor emphasized the need for enhanced intelligence efforts and greater community involvement in supporting security agencies to eliminate the group.