Terrorists Aim to Cripple Local Transport: Locals to TruthNigeria
By Segun Onibiyo and Steven Kefas
(Zamfara) “Lakurawa terrorist group – not bandits – are responsible for recent explosions in Dansadau district, Maru Local Government Area (LGA) of Zamfara state,” according to Zamfara Police Commissioner Muhammad Dalijan.
Local residents interviewed by TruthNigeria say the explosions are aimed at making the population too fearful to travel.
Confirming the explosion at Yar’ Tasha village Dec 4 along Dansadau road, in Zamfara state, the Zamfara state Police Commissioner Dalijan said, “1 person died, while 3 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The incident occurred around 8 am on Wednesday after a commercial driver conveying passengers to Dansadau town ran into an explosive device suspected to be planted by the terrorists.”
Dalijan added, “I can confirm that Lakurawa terrorists planted bombs under a bridge along Dansadau road this morning while motorists were passing and a Volkswagen Golf car rode on it as it exploded killing 1 person injuring 3 others”.
“Preliminary investigations by our detectives showed that it was a remnant of Lakurawa terrorists that were being pressed by the soldiers to leave Nigeria borders that planted the explosive. The terrorists are now trying to find their way to Birnin-Gwari forest in Kaduna state en-route by Zamfara state,” Dalijan said. “They are facing serious pressure from the Nigerian security to leave the country,” he went on to say.
“We have read reports from different sources claiming the bombs were planted by bandits, but our findings show otherwise,” Dalijan said. “This is the handiwork of the Lakurawa terrorists group. And by the grace of God, we will get them and deal with them decisively. All we need from the public is useful information about the movement of these terrorists,” he added.
Residents Speak
A resident of Dansadau Kabir Umar while speaking to TruthNigeria said, “this is has become a new pattern. Where the terrorists cannot get to the people, they blow them up. By my count, this is the second time an explosive device was planted along Dansadau road within one week. Sunday 1st December, an explosive device was planted at Mai-Gungume village along Dansadau road, killing a commercial driver plying the route.”
Another resident of Yar Tasha village, and member of the community guards, Farki Yar Tasha who spoke to TruthNigeria in Hausa said, “the community recently made efforts to repair the bad parts of the road, using mud mixed with sand to patch potholes. These terrorists used that opportunity to plant the bombs on one of the patched spots where we filled some potholes. It seems that the terrorists in Zamfara state have devised a new strategy particularly in and around Dansadau and environs.”
Another community leader in Dansadau, Alhaji Ahmed Barkalau urged the government to “take decisive measures to stop this trend.”
“Otherwise, travelling by road will now be difficult. Especially for traders and villagers,” Barkalau told TruthNigeria. “The danger posed by the Lakurawa terrorists group in planting bombs takes our people unawares. Imagine if they plant bombs in marketplaces or religious houses. It will be disastrous”, he added.
Expert Analysis
Security expert Dr. Walid Abdullahi, based in Birnin-Kebbi, describes the incident as a troubling tactic by the terrorists.
“Recall my comment a few days ago that government is more interested in media victory than actual victory against the terrorist group? They keep granting interviews to the media outlets claiming victory over the terrorists, but the truth on ground is alarmingly different,” Abdullahi said.
“Handling security issues should be with discretion, and they must also be more responsible and truthful,” Abdullahi added.
The expert pointed out a deeper issue: the apparent disconnect between media announcements and sustained military security operations necessary for genuine counterterrorism success.
“This new tactics means the security agents must work carefully, gathering intelligence to be ahead of the terrorists and where they make a breakthrough, they must be careful how they share these successes.” Dr. Abdullahi said.
According to bandit expert Dr. Murtala El Rufa’i at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, group has been trying to establish a caliphate for decades and now has 1,500 to 1,800 followers, recruiting locals with money and resources.
Lakurawa comprises of a group of 1500 to 1800 fighters from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Libya who came into Nigeria through its many porous borders with Niger republic approximately six years ago. With additional military deployments planned, authorities remain focused on securing the region and closing border vulnerabilities.
Impact on Counter-terrorism Measures
“The pattern adopted by this terrorist group must be studied carefully, and proactive measures put in place to tackle them before they happen,” A conflict researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Abuja, Mohammed Ibrahim told TruthNigeria.
“Like I mentioned to you (TruthNigeria) a few days ago, when the government repeatedly makes false claims about defeating these groups, it inadvertently strengthens their narrative and makes them appear more resilient than they are,” he explains.
Possible Way Forward
As Lakurawa continue to operate in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi and Kaduna states, the question of whether Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy is on track is raised frequently. The shadowy group has maintained camps in 10 local governance areas of Sokoto and Bauchi before gaining sudden media exposure in early November, according to Punch.
The gap between official claims, ground realities and unpredictable patterns of attack devised by the terrorist groups does not only dampen public trust but potentially compromise the effectiveness of future security operations, according to Dr. Abdullahi.
“Victory over terrorism requires more than just media announcements. It demands consistent action, intelligence gathering, collaborations, honest reporting, and sustained engagement with affected communities,” Dr. Abdullahi said.
Steven Kefas and Segun Onibiyo are conflict reporters for TruthNigeria.
