FELIX NWANERI writes on the emergence of a brand new terror group referred to as Lakuwara, which appears to compound Nigeria’s safety challenges regardless of efforts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to root out felony gangs threatening the peace and stability of the nation
With an space of over 923,773 sq. kilometres, the most important single geographical unit alongside the west coast of Africa and the most important inhabitants within the continent, Nigeria has grow to be a land of violence and there’s no doubt that insecurity throughout the nation portends hazard to the nation’s continued existence.
From the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-East geopolitical zone to banditry and kidnapping within the North-West; farmers/herders conflict within the North Central; militancy cum oil theft within the South-South and agitation for self-determination within the South-East, there isn’t a doubt that the image about Nigeria is that of a nation at struggle with herself.
The Boko Haram insurgency, which is pushed by Islamic extremists has not solely claimed hundreds of lives and property value billions of naira, it has turned thousands and thousands of Nigerians to refugees in their very own nation. Additionally, throughout most northern states and even neigbouring Chad, Niger Republic and Cameroon, are camps for Internally Displaced Individuals (IDPs) of Nigerian origin.
The Federal Authorities, had in 2015, pronounced Boko Haram “technically defeated,” however the insurgents have remained an ever current risk. Consequently, the disaster has continued to disrupt financial and social actions within the affected states, whereas rebuilding efforts by the Federal Authorities at the side of donor companies have gulped billions of naira.
For the bandits ravaging the North-West, kidnapping for ransom and cattle rustling have grow to be profitable companies. Within the oil-rich however impoverished South-South, sabotage of pipelines by oil thieves has grow to be legendary.
Equally, rising ethnic pressure over actions of killer herdsmen throughout the nation has not solely uncovered the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, however the tendency of the varied ethnic nationalities in the direction of parochial consciousness, which is progressively driving Nigeria to the sting.
The farmers/herder disaster, which has claimed hundreds of lives, is principally because of disputes over land sources between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. The affect of the disaster has been extra devastating within the North Central however the herders have superior in the direction of the southern a part of the nation, thereby shifting the battleground.
Separatist agitation within the South-East, on its half, has devastated the zone however equally led to lack of lives. Of word is the Mondays’ stay-at-home directive by the Indigenous Individuals of Biafra (IPOB) over authorities’s continued detention of its chief, Nnamdi Kanu, which has left companies within the space gasping for breath.
These safety challenges, at a time, prompted some stakeholders to name on Nigerians to bear arms and defend themselves because the Federal Authorities appears to have didn’t carry out its core operate of safety of lives and property. However justifiable as this proposal appeared, some notable Nigerians, warned in opposition to the risks of such measure.
This stakeholder recalled how some nonstate actors emerged throughout the nation within the identify of defending their respective zones, just for them to rework to self-determination and even terror teams. Moderately than half measures, they referred to as for concerted efforts by the federal and state governments if insecurity is to be addressed.
This so-called Lakurawa… are making a mistake; no one ever dares Tinubu and wins. They’ve come on the flawed time; no one has ever defeated Tinubu
Challenges persist regardless of
Tinubu’s riot act Whereas there isn’t a doubt that the varied safety challenges predate the current administration, they’ve endured even with President Bola Tinubu’s declaration on assumption of workplace that his authorities is not going to yield floor to these he termed as “divisive components.”
Recall that the President in his inaugural speech on Could 29, 2023, promised to “defend the nation from terror and all types of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our nation.”
He reiterated this when he changed the service chiefs his administration inherited from the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Giving a marching order to the then newly-appointed service chiefs, National Security Adviser (NSA) and Inspector General of Police (IGP), President Tinubu charged them to work collectively as a way to strengthen the battle in opposition to insecurity.
It was in opposition to this backdrop that the NSA, Nuhau Ribadu, who addressed journalists after their first assembly with the President in June 2023, mentioned: “We’re going to work tirelessly to make sure we accomplish that goal of securing our nation, establishing peace, stability and getting our lives again.”
The Chief of Defence Staff, Basic Chris Musa, who spoke in like manne, mentioned: “Because the CDS, my promise to Nigeria is that we’ll proceed to enhance our mandate of sustaining peace and tranquility in our nation.
We guarantee each Nigerian to really feel secure that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are up and doing. We’re extremely skilled and will probably be there for them. “No one ought to doubt our dedication to carry peace to Nigeria. Anyone, particularly the criminals, bandits, terrorists, anybody who thinks in any other case, needs to be able to face the music.”
Lakurawa compounds safety woes
Whereas killings and destruction of the general public services have endured regardless of efforts by the safety companies to curb actions of the fear teams the current affirmation by the Defence Headquarters of emergence of a brand new terror group referred to as Lakuwara within the North-West, appears to have compounded the nation’s safety challenges.
The army mentioned the beforehand unknown Lakurawa was linked to Islamic State, which operates in Kebbi and Sokoto states, first emerged in 2018, when the group began serving to locals battle bandits and cattle rustlers. However the relationship turned bitter as residents started accusing Lakurawa of stealing their cattle and searching for to impose strict Islamic legislation.
The group retreated to the border areas of Niger and Mali however would make some incursions into Nigeria. Members of the group, on November 8, members of Lakurawa killed 15 folks in an assault on Mera village in Augie Native Authorities Space of Kebbi State.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Basic Edward Buba, who disclosed Lakurawa’s emergence, whereas briefing journalist on army operations, said that the brand new terror group originated within the Republic of Niger after the current coup, which disrupted army cooperation between Nigeria and Niger.
He defined that the terrorists started infiltrating northern areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States from Niger Republic and Mali, notably following the coup in Niger.
In line with him, joint border operations with Nigerien safety forces, beforehand in place earlier than the coup, had saved the terrorists at bay.
His phrases: “The terrorists took benefit of the gaps in cooperation between each international locations and exploited troublesome terrains to make incursions into distant areas in some north-western states to unfold their ideology.
“The terrorists have been initially welcomed by locals who believed that they had good intentions. Nonetheless, the motion was not reported to the army and safety companies.”
The DHQ spokesperson assured that troops have sustained Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts to degrade the terrorists. He added that the group continued to use huge ungoverned areas to cover, evade troops, and harass locals however said that troops have been finding and eliminating the risk.
Govt talks powerful
Whereas many have expressed concern over emergence of the brand new terror group, the Federal Authorities via the National Security Adviser (Ribadu), averred that safety companies will flush out Lakurawa.
Ribadu, who gave Nigerians the peace of mind final week, whereas talking on the opening ceremony of the 2024 Comptroller-Basic of Customs convention, mentioned: “This so-called Lakurawa or no matter you name them are making a mistake; no one ever dares Tinubu and wins. They’ve come on the flawed time; no one has ever defeated Tinubu. “We’ll kick the so-called Lakurawa out of our nation.
That is Nigeria of 2024. And this can be a Nigeria the place I can guarantee you the critics will probably be quiet one after the opposite. Issues will change in our nation. Boko Haram, which has been ravaging our nation, is now on the run. Its members are actually transferring to different neighbouring international locations as a result of Nigeria is not conducive for his or her operations.”
Whereas there isn’t a doubt over the potential of the Federal Authorities to make sure legislation and order, there’s additionally the necessity for all related stakeholders to make sure that the brand new terror group is flushed out earlier than it snowballs into a big scale disaster.
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