By Uche Onyeali
Following the announcement of emergence of new terror group in the North West part of Nigeria known as Lakurawa, the apex northern socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has urged the Nigerian military to urgently rise to action against the group, said to have been terrorising residents of Sokoto and Kebbi States.
Describing the emergence of the new terrorist group as dangerous and alarming, ACF noted that the development indicated an escalation in the devastating state of insecurity in the North-West, which has become Nigeria’s epicentre of terrorism.
National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba in a statement said the emergence of the Lakurawa terror gang in the North-West raises serious concerns.
The organisation warned that the terror group should not be toyed with in any form or be tolerated or allowed to entrench itself, as was the case with the Boko Haram insurgency.
It, therefore, called for an immediate, comprehensive and thorough re-appraisal of strategies and tactics, to leave no one in doubt about the national resolve to deal decisively with any threats to the nation’s peace and stability as may be contemplated by terror groups of whatever forms or descriptions.
According to the Forum, the emergence of the Lakurawa terror group brings into sharp focus a need for the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MJTF, arrangement with neighbours to be reinvigorated and reinforced, noting that the Niger Republic must be persuaded to return to participate in the endeavour.
“The visit to the Niger Republic earlier in the year by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, should be utilised as a fulcrum for renewed cross-border international efforts to deal with terrorists.
“The Federal Government, state and local authorities should also leverage on the close complex historic socio-cultural, economic and political ties with Nigeria’s neighbours with which to confront the mutual existential security threats that terror groups pose to all”, the statement advised.
