By ZAKAA LAZARUS.
The General Officer Commanding,, GOC Headquarters 8 Division Nigerian Army and also Sector 2 Commander Operation Fasan Yaman, Major General Ibikunle Ajose has confirmed that troops under his command have successfully flushed out the Lukaruwas terrorists group out of Nigeria.
General Ajose made this known while briefing Defence Correspondents at the Headquarters 8 Division in Sokoto.
He said the success were achieved through kinetic approach nicknamed Operations Chase Out Lukaruwas.
According to him, the operation chase out Lakurawas sometime last year, was introduced when the group resurfaced and the DHQ sent a special operations brigade to operate in kangaza Mutu silani, areas of Sokoto state, and iwi and Arawa of kebbi state, ” and must also state, categorically that we have been able to destroy all their camps in Sokoto and kebbi state”. He added.
“They are highly mobile terrorist group but we disseminated them, and they keep criss crossing between Nigeria and Niger. And we’ve also been partnering with Nigerein forces to ensure that they do not have any freedom of action.
“The operation is not all kinetics. We also have our non kinetics engagement spearheaded by various state governments and operations safe corridor North West. And we have also started getting positive results.
” We’ve had stakeholders engagement with the fulani community, the Hausa community, and then some of the terrorist groups have shown their willingness to drop their arms. And a few weeks ago, in Katsina, state, we had some groups in Baskali Algelia surrendered some arms unconditionally, and also release some kidnapped victims. So it a work in progress.
“We are there to ensure we put in our best to ensure that we successfully complete our mission.
“He said during this period under review troops intensified operations against the terrorist group.
“We have some subsidiary operations that were conducted like I was said 8 Division covers
Katsina, Kebbi, sokoto and Zamfara states, we have one brigade that is responsible for Zamfara and kebbi state.
“We have brigade also responsible for Kasina state, and then we have a division garrison that is responsible for Sokoto state.
“So it’s actually a joint force that is operating in these four states. Now, like I said we have some operations that came about due to certain necessities.
He said these achievements has also come with this downsides. Downside some troops paid the supreme price.
“We have lost, some officers, soldiers some are in the hospital”. General Ajose added.
