The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared nine more terrorists wanted, without offering a bounty, as part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria.
The wanted individuals include Abu Khadijah, Abdurrahman, Dadi Gumba a.k.a Abu Muhammed, Usman Kanin Shehu, Abu Yusuf, Musa Wa’a, Ibrahim Suyeka, BA Sulhu, and Idris Taklakse.
In a related development, the military high command confirmed the emergence of a new terrorist group named *Lukarawas*, which is further exacerbating insecurity in the North Western region of the country.
The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, made these revelations while briefing newsmen on the ongoing military operations in Abuja on Thursday.
Buba stated that *Lukarawas* emerged from the Republic of Niger, following the recent coup that disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and Niger. The terrorists began infiltrating northern parts of Sokoto and Kebbi States, primarily from the Niger Republic and Mali axis, particularly after the breakdown of cooperation.
“Prior to the coup, there were joint border operations with Nigerien security forces which kept the terrorists at bay,” Buba explained.
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“However, the terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and exploited the difficult terrains to make incursions in remote areas in some North Western states to spread their ideology.”
He further disclosed that the terrorist group was initially accommodated by local populations who, at first, believed the militants had good intentions. However, these locals failed to report the terrorists’ movements to the military or other security agencies.
Despite this, Buba assured that Nigerian troops had sustained Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations to track and degrade the terrorists.
“The group has continued to take advantage of the vast under-governed areas to hide and evade troops as well as harass the locals,” he said. “Our troops are working relentlessly to locate these terrorists and eliminate their threat.”
The DHQ continues to prioritize efforts to secure Nigeria’s borders and eliminate terrorist groups operating within the country.
