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DHQ moves to stop Lukarawa’s recruitment drive
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.”
News
Nigerian Govt promises support for stampede victims’ families
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said the Federal Government will support families of victims of recent stampedes across the country.
Shettima made this known in a condolence message on Sunday in Abuja.
He expressed sorrow over the losses and offered prayers and condolences to the affected families.
Recall that on Saturday in Okija, Anambra, a Christmas palliative distribution event turned tragic with 22 persons losing their lives in an early morning stampede.
The same day in Abuja, another tragedy struck when ten persons died during an annual Christmas food-sharing event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.
There was also a stampede on Wednesday at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Oyo State, where about 35 children lost their lives and others sustained injuries during a holiday fun fair.
The vice-president, who described the incidents as a national tragedy, revealed that the Federal Government had directed relevant agencies to provide immediate support to affected families.
“I am extremely saddened by these tragic incidents that have claimed innocent lives.
“My prayers and thoughts are with the grieving families of all victims, including those who sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment.
“I am particularly distraught by the fact that so many lives of Nigerians, particularly children, have been lost in stampedes that ought to have been avoided through proper planning and organisation,” he said.
He prayed the Almighty God to grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed.
“We stand ready to support the bereaved families through this difficult period, and no effort will be spared in providing the necessary assistance they need.”
News
Umahi rules out compensation for bare land owners
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reiterated that the Federal Government does not compensate for bare lands, adding that all lands belong to the government.
He disclosed this at the inspection of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Section 1 at kilometre 18, Okun Ajah axis, recently.
He said, “Go and read the law; there is no compensation for bare land. All land belongs to the government. Hence, if you are taking what belongs to you, you do not pay compensation; it is the president that directed that anywhere we see a shanty on our corridor, we should pay compensation; it is a kind of human meekness from the president towards the people. We broke no law.
“So, where there is no infrastructure on land, they have to write to Mr. President for a direction on that.”
In an interview with The Punch, the General Secretary, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Lagos Chapter, Folusho Ogunrinde, said land was undeniably an asset whether owned by individuals, businesses, or the government.
He said, “Governments recognise the value of land as an asset and manage it as such. For instance, you cannot encroach on government-owned land for development because it is considered part of their assets.
Similarly, individuals and private entities acquire land either through inheritance, purchase, or investment. When such land is taken away, the argument that compensation should only be for developments and not the land itself is fundamentally flawed. It disregards the asset’s intrinsic value and how it was acquired.
“The 99-year lease system in Nigeria further underscores the value of land as an asset, as this lease is renewable. If governments require compensation for the renewal of a lease or when public use necessitates land acquisition, individuals and private owners deserve similar recognition and compensation for their land when expropriated.
“The law, as it stands, needs urgent redress. The idea that landowners should not be compensated for their land is, frankly, unjust and tantamount to fraud. Land is more than a physical space; it is an economic and generational asset. To deny compensation for it is to undermine the principles of equity and justice. Hence, there is a need for a review of the Land Use Act and constitutional provisions to align with the realities of land as a critical and valuable asset.”
In a similar vein, the Team Lead, Arbitration, Maritime, and Real Estate Practice Group, Stren & Blan Partners, Joseph Siyaidon, posited that non-payment of compensation on bare land was unconstitutional.
He said, “The Land Use Act is merely an existing Act and not part of the Constitution. We humbly submit that the provisions of the Land Use Act, which limit the payment of compensation for private properties compulsorily acquired by the government to only unexhausted improvements on the land, are unconstitutional in that they violate the provisions of Sections 43 & 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which extends the right of compensation to all immovable properties, bare lands included.”
Umahi disclosed that the first phase of the coastal highway will be completed by May 29, 2025.
He said, “By May 29 we are facing the commissioning, and we have directed all the comptrollers of works that, by the end of April, every comptroller of works in all the states must give us a minimum of three projects that Mr. President is going to commission.
“From Channel 0, we are going to be commissioning the first 20 kilometres; however, another 10 kilometres would be ready at the end of the project within this period, but we are not commissioning that one, it is going to be phase 2 of section 1 for commissioning. Generally, across the country, we are going to be commissioning projects in phases.”
Meanwhile, the Acting Director of Road Design, Engr. Musa Saidi, assured that the highway construction adheres to approved specifications and includes additional measures for durability. Any realignment is for public interest, safety, and economic reasons,” he said.
News
Telcos demand plan to resolve N250bn USSD debt
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria has called on industry regulators to implement clear and practical solutions to resolve the long-standing N250bn debt owed by banks to telecom operators for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data offerings.
Speaking with The PUNCH, ATCON President Tony Emoekpere stressed the need for clear solutions, warning that the debt crisis threatens the progress of financial inclusion in the country.
In Nigeria, USSD is vital for financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas where smartphone penetration and internet access are limited.
It is heavily relied upon by banks, especially for mobile banking services, and is also used for services like airtime top-ups, bill payments, and other telecom services.
“My advice is that it is crucial for this debt to be addressed directly and for a solution to be found. If telcos are not encouraged to support the financial industry and such debts continue to accumulate, it will be detrimental to financial inclusion targets,” he said.
Emoekpere also highlighted the importance of prioritizing USSD traffic and creating incentives for telecom operators to continue supporting the financial sector.
He urged industry regulators, including the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria, to establish a framework that ensures the timely and equitable resolution of such disputes.
The debt crisis has persisted for years, with telecom operators threatening to suspend USSD services unless payments are made.
While smaller banks have reportedly begun repaying their obligations in installments, tier-one lenders—responsible for the bulk of the debt—are yet to make significant payments, according to the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo.
“Some repayments have been recorded, but they fall short of expectations,” Adebayo told The PUNCH in November.
Telecom operators have long argued that the unpaid debts undermine their ability to maintain USSD services, which are critical for financial transactions in Nigeria.
The operators have repeatedly called for the intervention of regulators to facilitate a lasting resolution.
Industry stakeholders warn that failure to resolve the debt crisis could jeopardize efforts to expand financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas where USSD services play a pivotal role.
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