A Former Theatre Commander Operation in Lafia, Gen. Rogers Nicolas has likened the emergence of the Lakurawas in Sokoto state to the early days of Boko Haram in Borno state, where initial warnings were dismissed or taken lightly by the community.
He argued that despite the long-standing presence of a terrorist group in the area, locals only recently began to voice their concerns. He emphasized the importance of local intelligence in combating terrorism. He pointed out that local intelligence networks should establish strategic connections with traditional rulers in their communities.
He said in an interview with Arise TV from 10:13, “The local intelligence circle within the local government area are supposed to have a strategic connection with the local traditional ruler. So that you discuss with them and get information, go to to the market places, go to the Border Point Crossing Point and see what is happening. Then from there you start developing the intelligence, you develop it from information to intelligent you analyse and can come out with proper intelligence so that the military and other agencies can really act. But for over five and six years and now the people are coming out now to say that there is this terrorist group in their neighborhood. This is how Boko Haram started and the Locals were joking with it.”