DHQ declares nine more terrorists wanted

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared nine additional terrorists wanted, in connection with the rise of a new terror group in Nigeria.

The newly identified terrorists include Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba (also known as Abu Muhammed), Usman Kanin Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, BA Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse. Unlike previous announcements, no bounty has been attached to their names.

The DHQ also confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group, called “Lukarawas,” which is believed to be operating primarily in northwestern Nigeria.

This was revealed by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, when he briefed journalists on the military operations in Abuja.

The group, which has ties to ISIS in the Sahel, has taken advantage of the breakdown in military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger following the recent coup in Niger. This disruption allowed the group to infiltrate northern Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Republic of Niger and Mali.

Maj.-Gen. Buba noted that before the coup, joint border operations with Nigerien security forces had successfully kept such groups at bay. However, the recent political upheaval has provided an opportunity for the Lukarawas group to advance its agenda in Nigeria, where they have begun imposing their ideology and levies on local populations.

He said, “As I mentioned earlier, they were kept at bay while we had joint cross-border operations with the Republic of Niger. However, after the coup took place in Niger, they exploited the breakdown in cooperation between the two countries, which has now been restored.

“They took advantage of this breakdown to make incursions through difficult terrain into remote locations on the outskirts of the northwestern part of our country, including some of those states.

“We know exactly where they are as I speak to you. Now, what are the issues? When they arrived, the locals recognised that they had strangers in their midst. Upon recognising this, the proper course of action would have been to alert the authorities.”

Buba stressed the need for greater cooperation from local communities in identifying and reporting suspicious activities, stressing that the failure to act promptly had allowed the terrorists to gain a foothold in the region.

He assured that military operations are ongoing to locate and eliminate the group, with Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) efforts continuing to target the terrorists.

He said, ““They embraced them, thinking that they would protect them from terrorists or other threats, allowing them to settle in and spread their ideology. Having settled in and gained a foothold, they started imposing levies on the people. It was only at that point that the locals felt the need to notify us.

“That is not the time to notify. You should report immediately when you see something strange. Winning this war without the support of the people is impossible. They came in the same way as Boko Haram. They tell the men to grow long beards, the women to wear hijabs, and impose other such practices.

“They are easy to spot because of these traits. I continue to urge Nigerians to help us to help you. Now that we know where they are, we are finding them and flushing them out.”