The National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Laka, has reassured Nigerians that there is no cause for alarm regarding the newly emerged terror group, Lakurawa. He emphasized that the group’s membership is believed to be fewer than 200 individuals, suggesting that it poses a manageable threat.
General Laka made these remarks in Abuja in response to the recent surge of terrorist activities in Sokoto State and other parts of the North-West, which have been attributed to the Lakurawa group. While acknowledging the presence of this new threat, he underscored that the military and other security agencies, under the guidance of National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, are actively addressing the situation.
“The security forces are fully in control, and we are confident that the group will be neutralized in the near future,” General Laka stated. He also highlighted that since the emergence of the Lakurawa group, key defense and security officials, including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and other service chiefs, have held multiple meetings and implemented decisive actions to eliminate the group from Sokoto State and across Nigeria.
On the origins of Lakurawa, General Laka explained that the group initially gained support from local communities who invited them to help secure the region from bandits. However, over time, the group began imposing taxes on the local population, a move that is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the government of Nigeria.
“Their role as protectors has now turned into an extortion racket, and this will not be allowed in a sovereign nation,” General Laka said.
In a separate development, NSA Nuhu Ribadu issued a stern warning to the Lakurawa terrorist group, declaring that their days in Nigeria are numbered. Speaking at the opening of the Comptroller General of Customs Conference in Abuja, Ribadu emphasized that the group’s actions will not go unpunished.
“They have chosen the wrong time to challenge Nigeria,” Ribadu asserted. “Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, no group can undermine the sovereignty of this country and expect to succeed.”
Ribadu vowed that the Lakurawa group, along with any other terror factions, will be driven out of Nigeria.
