....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has disclosed that the Lakurawa terror group has been chased out of Nigeria.
Matawalle made the revelation while addressing journalists at his residence in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara.
He dismissed claims by the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, Mohammed Shehu Dalijan, who alleged that Lakurawa terrorists were responsible for the explosive devices that killed several people in the state a few weeks ago.
Naija News reports that the Lakurawa group, initially emerging around 2016 or 2017 in Sokoto State, began as a self-defence militia invited by local leaders to combat escalating banditry.
Over time, they evolved into a radical faction, imposing strict religious laws and exerting control over local communities.
However, speaking on Sunday, the Defence Minister stated that the terror group has been completely eradicated from the country.
“I want to make it clear that we have no Lakurawa in any part of the country, not even in Zamfara or Kebbi State,” he said.
Speaking further, he explained that the Lakurawa terrorists were from Mali and were forced to return to their country by the military
“They were not even in Kebbi State as earlier reported by the media,” he added.
Matawalle emphasised that the military had dealt decisively with the bandits, forcing them to return to Mali. “We have no Lakurawa in any part of the country,” he reiterated.
The Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts in fighting terrorism, calling on all Nigerians to support the administration.
He also applauded the President’s ongoing work to build a “new Nigeria” through policies and programmes that benefit the country.
“I want to make it clear that the construction of the Zaria-Sokoto Road and the Illela-Badagry Road is one of the projects currently being carried out by the Tinubu administration.
“The lifting of the ban on mining is another effort by Mr. President to develop the North,” Matawalle stated.
