Army Denies Withdrawal As Residents Raise Alarm Over Lakurawa Return To Sokoto Forest

The Nigerian Army has denied stories that its troops have vacated Waria Forest in Tangaza native authorities space of Sokoto State, following alarm by residents that Lakurawa terrorists are regrouping to reclaim the forest.

Residents of border communities in Tangaza on Friday raised the alarm that remnants of the Lakurawa group have been sighted regrouping round settlements fringing the forest, barely two weeks after the army bombed and sacked their enclaves.

A youth chief within the space, Malam Safullahi Bello, who spoke solely with LEADERSHIP Sunday, stated residents reside in worry that the Sahelian jihadist group is perfecting plans to reoccupy the forest hall.

“The residents around the forest area are panicking. This forest was overtaken by troops recently. Now, Lakurawa terrorists are attempting to regroup in Waria Forest. If troops relax, they will return stronger,” Bello warned.

He urged the Federal Government and the army excessive command to determine a everlasting Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Waria Forest to forestall re-occupation.

But when contacted on Saturday afternoon, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, dismissed the fears, insisting that troops have been nonetheless holding floor and dominating the realm.

Osoba stated, “I spoke with our men conducting operations there. They have not seen anything like that. They have not gotten any complaints from the surrounding villages. We have a unit stationed at Waria Forest and it is still there. Operation is continuous. We are with the villages, protecting them. If there were complaints, it would have been routine for us.”

He assured that Operation FANSAN YAMMA is ongoing and the Army won’t permit the terrorists to regroup.

Waria Forest is taken into account strategic because it serves as headquarters of the Lakurawa group, a closely armed jihadist cell that infiltrated Sokoto from Niger and Mali axis and has established enclaves in Tangaza, Gudu, Illela LGAs of Sokoto and Augie in Kebbi State.

Before the October 15, 2026 bombardment beneath Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the group had imposed levies, rustled cattle and sacked farming communities within the axis.