The Traffic

West Africa’s Security Crisis: How ECOWAS Crackup is Fueling Terrorism

By Achimi Muktar

Nigeria Faces Mounting Insurgency as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Exit ECOWAS

Nigeria’s fight against insurgency has hit a dangerous crossroads as the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) weakens regional security cooperation.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, has sounded the alarm, warning that the security burden on Nigeria’s military has significantly increased. With these countries opting out of ECOWAS, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)—a key force in countering Boko Haram and ISWAP—has lost crucial allies, placing more pressure on Nigeria’s military forces.

ECOWAS Split Undermines Anti-Terror War

Speaking at a high-level military meeting in Abuja, Abubakar revealed that Chad is also considering pulling out, which would further cripple the MNJTF’s ability to conduct joint operations.

“With these states opting out and Chad considering withdrawal, the MNJTF’s capacity to conduct joint operations is now significantly affected,” Abubakar warned.

He called for a more robust and adaptive response from the Nigerian Air Force to compensate for the security void left by the departing nations. The Nigerian military, he said, must strengthen operational readiness, enhance inter-agency coordination, and leverage advanced air power to combat the evolving terrorist threats.

Terrorist Groups Expanding in the Sahel

The Sahel region has long been a breeding ground for terrorism, but Abubakar warned that the situation is worsening. Al-Qaeda-linked militants are now exploiting weak governance structures in the region, while porous borders in the Lake Chad Basin have allowed extremist groups to strengthen their operations.

“West Africa’s security landscape in 2024 remains highly complex. The Sahel continues to be a hotspot for terrorism and insurgency,” he said.

Adding to the crisis, Boko Haram terrorists have now begun using drones to attack Nigerian troops. A recent attack in Wajiroko, Damboa LGA, saw the group deploy kamikaze drones carrying locally fabricated grenades—a chilling sign that militants are adopting modern warfare tactics.

Coastal West Africa Now a Target for Terrorists

Nigeria isn’t the only country at risk. According to Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, terrorists are expanding operations into coastal West African states like Benin Republic.

“The successes recorded by these terrorists have further emboldened their operational capabilities, with their attempted expansion towards coastal West African countries such as Benin Republic,” Laka said.

Military Gains in South-East and South-South

Despite the worsening insurgency in the north, Abubakar acknowledged significant security improvements in the South-East, where secessionist attacks have declined following military operations and the arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland.

Meanwhile, in the South-South, aerial surveillance and reconnaissance under Operation Delta Safe have helped curtail crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.

“As a result of our joint efforts, Nigeria’s production of crude oil and condensates rose in the last quarter of 2024 by over 13 percent above the 1.5 million barrels per day output for the same period in 2023,” he noted.

A New Wave of Terrorism?

The threat is far from over. Maj. Gen. Richard Gyane, Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, warned that West Africa has become a global terrorism hotspot.

Between 2007 and 2023, terrorism-related deaths in West Africa jumped from 1% to a staggering 43% of the global total, he revealed.

Terrorists are no longer just targeting Mali and Burkina Faso. They are moving into Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo, with potential threats looming over Ghana.

With terrorist groups funding their operations through arms trafficking, human smuggling, and illicit trade in oil and precious metals, the situation is spiraling out of control.

What’s Next?

The cracks in ECOWAS have left Nigeria and its neighbors vulnerable. As terrorists become more emboldened and innovative, the question remains—can Nigeria’s military handle the growing burden alone, or will regional leaders step up to prevent West Africa from becoming the next global terrorism epicenter?