“Such a force can stand as a strong deterrent to large-scale and protracted terrorist operations.” — Tinubu
Insecurity caused by terrorism has bedevilled Africa. On this, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with Ghanaian and Togolese Presidents Nana Akufo and Faure Gnassigbe, have joined hands to tackle the challenge.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, shared in the counter-terrorism summit in Abuja that the epicentre of terrorism has shifted from the Middle East and North Africa into sub-Saharan Africa, concentrated largely in the Sahel.
She went further to state, “The situation, particularly in the Sahel, is dire… the region now accounts for almost half of all deaths from terrorism globally.”
It was observed that many African countries are tackling the current challenge at the Lake Chad borders. The three West African countries of Mail, Niger, and Burkina have been embattled by the activities of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State-allied jihadist groups, as well as coups. This reality has hampered regional peace and cooperation.
According to Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, “Today, the challenge of fighting terrorism is on a different scale. We are fighting networks that know no boundaries or borders. Africa finds itself at the forefront of everyone’s war.”
By Chidimma NWAFOR
