A Kebbi State delegation dispatched by Governor Nasir Idris has met with Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, pleading with him to flush out the new terror group, Lukarawas from the State.
His team, led by the immediate past governor and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu, has Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, as well as a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Alhaji Nasiru Junju as members.
Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ahmed Idris, who visited the CDS known, said in a statement that the CDS promised the delegation that the military would take necessary action
On Wednesday, the Defence Headquarters announced to Nigerians the presence of the Lukarawas group in Sokoto and Kebbi states, having moved from Niger and the Sahel.
On Friday, the terror group struck Mera, a community in Augie Local Government Area of the Kebbi State killing 15 people.
Also, yesterday, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) urged the Federal Government and the security agencies to act fast and rid Sokoto and Kebbi states of the emerging terrorist group.
In a statement yesterday, Idris said: “The minister informed the CDS that the essence of their visit was to intimate (him) on the need for immediate action to bring an end to the current security challenge facing not only Kebbi but the country at large.
“The delegation thanked the military as well as other security agencies for supporting the state in addressing the security challenges bedeviling the state.”
Idris quoted Gen. Musa as assuring the delegation of the readiness of the military to intervene with a view to arresting the perpetrators and bringing them to book.
“Gen. Musa also reiterated the commitment of the military to joining hands with other security agencies in safeguarding the state,” Idris quoted the CDS as saying.
During an operational tour to Sokoto State, the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede told residents of Gongono Masallachi that their community’s support was crucial to the protection of Nigeria’s territory.
The acting COAS said: “Nigeria belongs to all of us; the soldiers are your brothers, friends, and fellow Nigerians. Support us, and inform us when there are any challenges.
“I want to assure you that all the soldiers here are for you. Please notify them of any security threats or unusual activity.
“We know there will always be challenges, but the question is how we respond to them.”
The acting army chief said one of the reasons of his visit was to assess the readiness of troops and to encourage them to rise to the challenges they face.
He said: “I urge you to support us, because without your cooperation, we cannot succeed, and Nigeria itself cannot be secured.
“We need Nigeria to be secured so that we can all share in its prosperity.”