….. Nigeria, Niger collaborate to tackle Lakurawa terrorists
FROM LUKA SHEKARA, KADUNA
Terrorists have again allegedly besieged the North west geopolitical zone of Nigeria with report of abduction of 43 women and children in Zamfara state recently. There is also reported abduction of another 12 persons in Katsina state.
In a quick reaction, the Nigerian military said it is collaborating with the government of neighbouring Niger Republic to quell attack on Nigeria by the Lakurawa terrorist group.
It was reported that bandits abducted about 43 persons, mostly women and children, from the Kakidawa ward in the Gidan Goga district of Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State in the early hours of last Sunday
Residents who confirmed the raid and abductions in the district said they counted 43 people, including three adult males and 40 women and children, who were taken by the bandits during the attack.
It was gathered that the heavily armed attackers stormed the village, firing sporadically and forcing residents, especially men, to flee into the bush.
They therefore took away women and children, who were unable to escape at gunpoint, adding that the headcount of the abducted was conducted the following day, Monday.
“The entire village was gripped by fear as gunshots echoed throughout the operation. We have turned to prayers for the safe return of our loved ones, particularly given the harsh harmattan weather conditions.” a resident of Gidan Giga explained, adding the bandits conducted a house-to-house search during the raid to fish ou residents in their hideout s.
“While local vigilante members were caught off guard, residents believe resistance might have been possible if the vigilantes had been prepared
“We need security. These bandits are ruthless and can strike again,” a resident warned.
There was no statement from the police regarding the incidentt as Zamfara state Police command spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar, told journalists that he was yet to be apprised of the development.
In a similar attack, 12 people were reported to have been abducted while two were injured as armed bandits carried out two separate attacks in Unguwar Dairy in Funtua and Dandume local government areas of Katsina State
It was also gathered that the attack happened hours after the bandits had barricaded a road near Jarumai in Dandume LGA, kidnapping two travellers and moving them away with their motorcycles.
A resident of Unguwar Dahiru, Bala Ishiaku, who confirmed the incident to correspondents on telephone, said the bandits have not contacted the families of the victims for ransom payment.
He added that the development has entrenched serious fear and anxiety among residents of the areas with many abandoning their homes for fest of fresh attacks
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen Olufemi Oluyede, has assured that the Lakurawa terror group, which has terrorized most of the North west cities in the country, will soon be eliminated.
General Oluyede gave the assurance when he spoke with newsmen after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja
The COAS, who expressed confidence in Nigeria’s collaborative efforts with neighbouring countries to tackle cross-border insurgency said, “We are hitting them hard at the Nigerian end, and once you hit them hard here, they tend to flee to the Niger Republic. Now that Niger Republic is coming on board, that means very soon, Lakurawa will be a thing of the past.”
He expressed confidence that the growing cooperation between Nigeria and its neighbours in the fight against terrorism, will soon yield dividends, stressing that a unified regional approach is critical to winning the fight against terror and insecurity in the West African subregion
“We need to collaborate with neighbouring countries because these issues affect them too. By working together, we can address the threat more effectively,” he added.
The visit, according to Oluyede, was to brief the President on his plans for a more secure Nigeria following his recent appointment.
“I am here to reassure the President that I will do my best to make Nigeria better in terms of security. Doing this, I am going to explore, maybe in a different way, and achieve results that will significantly improve our security situation,” Oluyede said.