The Defence Headquarters has said the new terrorist group, Lukarawa, has begun a recruitment process to bolster its fighting capabilities.

It, however, said the military was aware of the group’s recruitment activities and working closely with other security agencies and the state government to halt the recruitment efforts.

The DHQ had, last Thursday, confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group known as ‘Lukarawa’ in the northern region, with operations in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

The Director of Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said the terrorists began incursion into the northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states from the Niger Republic and Mali axis, particularly after the coup in the Niger Republic.

He blamed residents of the region for accommodating the terrorists and failing to report their movements to the military and other security agencies.

On Friday, the new terror group attacked Mera town in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State while residents were preparing for Jumaat prayers, killing at least 15 people and carting away at least 100 cows.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, Buba said the terrorists were using sermons and welfare packages to entice the youth.

He added that the terror group was also using social media to drive its recruitment efforts.

Buba said, “The group is employing social media platforms, showcasing sermons and enticing recruits with welfare packages.

“Nevertheless, we know of these plans and are working together with other security forces and the state government to thwart the efforts of the terrorist.”

A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, argued that although the group had been in existence since 2018, the country’s intelligence agencies had been monitoring their activities.

He said the sect’s members were too few to constitute a serious threat to national security.

He said, “It must be clear that this group has been there since 2018. It’s not a new group. They have been there since 2018. They were brought in there by the community leader who wanted to help them fight. This group was formed by Nassala in Niger Republic. So when he died, the Nigerien government could not control them.

“So they were invited to assist them in Sokoto. They were there, but eventually, the Sokoto State government used their non-kinetic approach to make them leave that place through negotiation.

“Some of them remained, and they’ve been operating on a very new team. So it’s not as if it’s a new terrorist group that has just emerged.

“So they’ve been there, and the intelligence agencies have been following their activities. I can’t tell you the exact number now, but they are not men that can pose a major threat to our national security.

“But that is not to say that we will leave them. The intelligence circle is also following their activities.”

Ejiofor stated that security agencies must intensify their intelligence efforts and communities must support these agencies to help eliminate the terror group.

He said, “Yes, they might be trying to recruit some people. The intelligence services are monitoring their activities with a view to putting them in check so that they don’t take root within that area.

“There’s no cause for alarm, but you cannot at the same time underplay any security threat in the country. There’s much we can do through communal support.”

He blamed the community for not reporting the activities of the bandits.

“If they report, they’ll be in trouble. If they fail to report, they’ll be in trouble. So the best thing is to support the government.

“You know, they collect taxes from these people and make them raise funds and all these things. So they are in a precarious position.

“I think the best thing for us to do is to intensify intelligence efforts and operational efforts from the security agencies to make sure they are put in check before they spread,” he said.

A security expert, Timothy Avele, said, “From open sources we gathered the group has been in existence for the past six years.

“In fact, in some Kebbi communities, they’re collecting levies and handling judicial cases and even preventing emirs from carrying out their lawful duties.

“So it means they have been existing but have not been known to the press and general public.

“If this is confirmed to be true, it, therefore, means the security agencies, especially the DSS and police intelligence department failed in their primary responsibility of gathering and analysing strategic intelligence.”

He added that with the hardship in the country, it would be difficult to stop the group’s recruitment drive.

“However, if their sources of funds are targeted and blocked and their top leadership/sponsors (both local and foreign) eliminated, including carrying out specific cyber operations, only then it could be stopped,” he said.”

Troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army and Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke have arrested 12 persons suspected to be involved in kidnapping and other vices.

Captain Olubodunde Oni acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade Army Public Relations Jalingo who disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Jalingo, said that the troops recovered one locally made pistol, 14 motorcycles and two bags of Indian Hemp.

“Following a distress call from the residents of Chachanji village regarding the abduction of two individuals by a group of about 10 armed men on motorcycles on November 7, 2024 ,and acting immediately, troops launched a rapid response operation aimed at rescuing the victims and intercepting the kidnappers.

“Upon making contact with the armed group, the superior firepower of the troops forced the kidnappers to withdraw deep into the bush, leaving behind their locally fabricated pistol and two bags of Indian hemp. The troops’ thorough exploitation of the area prevented further criminal activity and disrupted the kidnappers’ operations.

“In a subsequent follow-up operation which was based on credible intelligence, troops on November 9 arrested 12 suspects and seized 14 motorcycles at a local drinking joint in Mbhakyir village close to Agu Centre. During an intensive interrogation, the arrested suspects admitted to being part of the kidnapping operation and identified their leader as a notorious terrorist who has been on the wanted list of security agencies for orchestrating criminal activities in parts of southern Taraba and Benue states.

“The suspects further confessed that Veior was with them at Agu centre on November 5,2024, before the killing of two locals and abduction of two individuals on November, 6 and 7 respectively at Chachanji general area. They added that Veior was displeased with the locals in Chachanji, hence he wanted to ensure the market is closed down by putting fear and terror in the mind of both buyers and sellers.

“While commending the efforts of local residents for their cooperation and encouraging them to continue providing timely and credible information to facilitate security operations. 6 Brigade Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all communities within its area of operation. Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies” the statement reads in part”.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and other Western machineries of deliberate efforts to destroy the public university system in Nigeria.

Its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, stated this at the 2024 ASUU Heroes’ Day celebration, in Abuja, yesterday.

He said the day was set aside a few years ago to honour members who made great sacrifices for the Nigeria educational system in general and the Nigerian public university system in particular.

He said: “Sadly, this year’s celebration of our heroes is also taking place as we continue with the struggle to rescue Nigeria’s public universities from the suffocating clutches of the World Bank and the IMF, whose determination to destroy and bury our public university system has not abated.

“It is rather lamentable that we are still in the struggle to compel the renegotiation of our 2009 agreement with the Federal Government since it should have been concluded and four circles of renegotiation thereafter.

“It is most disheartening that despite the several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), and Memoranda of Action (MoAs), the ASUU/FGN 2009 agreement is yet to be renegotiated and sighted.

“The situation has been further complicated with the enforcement and persistence of IPPIS on the public universities even with the directives of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to exit the tertiary education institutions thereof.

“Not to be forgotten is our three and half months’ salaries that are still unjustly withheld. The arrears of wages award, promotions arrears, and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) are also still outstanding.

“At the state universities, our members are still being punished for fighting for the interest of members and the university system. Let me re-emphasise that we stand with our members in Kogi State University, Lagos State University, Ebonyi State University, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, in their persecution for their principled support and solidarity in the struggle for the defence of the soul of public university education in Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, 14 members who were found to have contributed significantly in the Union’s struggle for a better university system and working environment for its members, were honoured.

Immediate-past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed and former Secretary General, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Peter Ozo-Eson, were among those honoured.

Others were Prof. Uzodimma Nwala, Prof. Oye Oyediran, Prof. Imeh Ikiddeh, Prof. Sola Olukunle, Tunde Oduleye, Akin Oyebode, Mustapha A. Danesi, Prof. Bright Ekuerhare, Mallam Bashir Kurfi, Mr. S.A. Fadipe, Nasir Hussain, and A.T. Gana.

Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, in his remarks, appreciated ASUU leadership for the industrial peace being experienced in the university system.

He assured them of the commitment of the Fund to any course that will strengthen the tertiary education system for visible socioeconomic growth and development.