By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to tackle the emergence of a terrorist group called Lakurawa around the Sokoto-Kebbi axis.
The Coalition particularly charged local, state, and federal authorities on one hand and communities, religious and traditional leaders on the other hand to joint hand together to confront his new common threat.
CNG in a statement issued and signed by Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, National Coordinator at the end of its meeting in Abuja, said the development poses yet another threat to the safety and security of residents and has the potential to further destabilize an already vulnerable region if left unchecked.
The Group revealed that reports indicate that the Lakurawa group has begun establishing itself with intentions that appear to mirror the tactics of other violent organizations that have, over time, spread terror across the region.
It added that that the group has already begun creating an atmosphere of fear, disrupting local communities, and killing lives and livelihoods of the residents.
The Coalition urged the federal government, security agencies, state and local government authorities to take decisive and proactive measures to address this threat while it is still in its infancy.
It strongly called on the federal government to significantly raise the number of troops currently combating the insecurity in the Northwest subregion as their current figure of about 13,000 is not just inadequate but also stretches their power and will to thoroughly eliminate the terrorists destroying the region.
The CNG suggested that an immediate, well-coordinated response across all levels of government is imperative to prevent Lakurawa from gaining further strength and territorial control.
It implored Kebbi to adopt strategies of engaging Community Watch Corps to complement the conventional security forces that its neighbours such as Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara have adopted to ensure a more robust and coordinated approach in addressing the common threat.
In the same vein, the CNG also appealed to the residents and communities of Kebbi, Sokoto, and neighboring states to cooperate closely with security forces.