By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has told the Federal Government and the security agencies to act fast and get rid of Lukarawa, the emerging terrorists group in the north-western states of Sokoto and Kebbi, saying that the group must not be treated with kid gloves like Boko Haram and bandits.

ACF in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Mohammed Baba, called for an immediate, comprehensive and thorough re-appraisal of the Nigeria’s National Security strategies and tactics to leave no one in doubts about the national resolve to deal decisively with any and all threats to the Nigeria’s peace and stability as may be contemplated by terror groups of whatever forms or descriptions.

The Forum also noted that, the development calls for a Multi-National Joint Task Force (MJTF) arrangement with neighbours to be reinvigorated and reinforced, adding that, Niger Republic must be persuaded to return to participate in the endeavour.

According to the statement, “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is most deeply concerned about the emergence of a new armed terror group, Lakurawa, in Northwest states of Kebbi and Sokoto, as confirmed by local authorities as well as Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters.

“The group has been reported to be terrorising communities, sacking National Security agents and local vigilante outfits, forcing compliance to its brand of justice system. Additionally, although membership of the group is reported of foreign origin (speaking French and a dialect of Arabic languages), it is said to engage in membership recruitment, using monetary incentives and/or force.

“Already, within the last 48 hours, the group had attacked communities in Argungu Local Government Area, killing 15 persons. This development is simply one too many.

“ACF considers the emergence of this group as very dangerous and alarming as it indicates an escalation in the very devastating state of insecurity in the Northwest, now the Nigeria’s epicentre of terrorism.

“Coming amid signs of successes from the renewed vigour by the Nigerian military to decapitate banditry in this zone, the new development raises serious concerns, as further grave challenge to Nigeria’s National Security interests. Thus, the group should not be towed with in any form and must be processed and treated with all the seriousness.

“Lakurawa, at this incipient stage of its emergence, must not be tolerated or allowed to entrenched itself to embedded in our communities through benign neglect and/or kid-glove treatment as was the case with Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder clashes and banditry in the Northeast, Northcentral and Northwest areas, respectively.

“This is the moment for our security agencies to move fast, and urgently too, to subjugate and decapitate the Lakurawa terror gangs with all the human and material arsenals at their disposal, without hesitation.

“For the umpteenth time, ACF urges an immediate, comprehensive and thorough re-appraisal of the Nigeria’s National Security strategies and tactics such as to leave no one in doubts about the national resolve to deal decisively with any and all threats to the Nigeria’s peace and stability as may be contemplated by terror groups of whatever forms or descriptions.

“ACF believes that the development in question brings into sharp focus a need for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MJTF) arrangement with neighbours to be reinvigorated and reinforced. Niger Republic must be persuaded to return to participate in the endeavour.

“The visit to Niger Republic earlier in the year by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, should be utilised as a fulcrum for renewed the cross-border international efforts to deal with terrorists.

“The Federal Government (FGN), state and local authorities should also leverage on the close complex historic socio-cultural, economic and political ties with Nigeria’s neighbours with which to confront the mutual existential security threats that terror groups pose to all.

“ACF further calls for: Intensification of intelligence gathering, processing, storage, retrieval, deployment and utilisation; Attention to be paid to the possible involvement of local informants in communities and such individuals, whoever they are without regards to their station in society, must unequivocally be made to know the dire consequences of any involvement with terror groups in any form whatsoever; Greater and more effective and efficient inter-agency collaboration among National Security Agencies under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Advisor.”

It also called for; “Involvement of local traditional and religious leaders, persons of influence, hunters, vigilante outfits and other community influentials to form vanguards of support for security operations; Training of citizens of border and other communities in early warning and early response strategies to complement the efforts of national security agencies; Re-establishment of security and defence joint-cooperation with neighbouring countries (and especially Niger Republic in this instant); Communities and citizens should be mobilised to cooperate with and support the National Security agencies and field operators with encouragement and prayers; and, finally,

Investigate and take decisive diplomatic action against any foreign powers for any possible support or any involvement, even if surreptitious or tangentially so, in anti-Nigeria threats,” ACF said.