Army Chief Urges Sokoto Residents To Support Security Efforts Against Lakurawa Terrorists

Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General, Olufemi Oluyede, has called on the people of Sokoto State to lend their support to ongoing military operations aimed at securing the region from the foreign armed group known locally as Lakurawa.

During his operational visit to the state, General Oluyede stated that his mission was to assess the readiness of troops stationed in the area and motivate them to continue their efforts in safeguarding the nation.

“I am here to see my troops, assess their operational readiness, and charge them to continue doing what they are doing to secure this country,” he said.

The Army Chief, who toured Tangaza Local Government Area—a known flashpoint for Lakurawa activities—also engaged with local community leaders, including Council Chairman Alhaji Isa Salihu Kalenjeni, seeking their collaboration.

“We need your support. If you don’t support us, we will not succeed, and if we don’t succeed, Nigeria will not be secured,” General Oluyede stressed. “There will always be challenges, but what is important is how we handle them. I assure you the Nigerian Army will not relent in their efforts to secure our country.”

Arriving by aircraft at approximately 9:30am, General Oluyede visited Masallaci, a community within Tangaza that lies 25 kilometers from the Niger Republic border.

There, he received briefings from the theatre commanders, including the General Officer Commanding 8 Division and the Garrison Commander.

The Army Chief also visited Illela, another border community, where he was updated by commanders and reiterated his call for community support to bolster the military’s security measures.