The Lakurawa armed group is currently retreating as the military intensifies its coordinated ground and air strikes on their camps in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
This military action follows a deadly attack by the Lakurawa group on the Mera community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where 17 people were killed. In response, the army sent a unit of soldiers to the affected area.
According to Abdullahi Idris Zuru, spokesperson for the Kebbi State governor, the soldiers first arrived in Birnin Kebbi, where they met with Deputy Governor Abubakar Umar Tafida at the Cabinet Office. They then proceeded to Mera to carry out their mission.
Zuru confirmed that the troops successfully pushed back the armed group, forcing them to abandon several stolen cattle during their retreat.
This deployment came after an urgent request from Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, who called on the federal government for support to combat the rising violence by armed groups in rural areas.
“The governor has pledged to safeguard the lives and property of all Kebbi State citizens, leading him to seek federal intervention to counter-terrorism across the state,” Zuru said.
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has assured that the Lakurawa armed group terrorising Northwestern states would be flushed out of Nigeria.
Ribadu gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We will chase the so-called Lukarawa out of our country. We will put critics to shame and shut their mouths in no time.
“Boko Haram, which has been ravaging our country, is now on the run. Its members are now moving to other neighbouring countries because Nigeria is no longer conducive for their operations,” he said.
He also said signs that things are getting better with the economy are there for all to see, citing increased crude oil production in the Niger Delta and the fiscal reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of such efforts.
“Crude oil production has hit 1.8 million bpd and the Central Bank has been sanitised; no one is taking a dime from the CBN. When we promised that we would fix this country, we will do so because President Tinubu has never been a failure,” he added.