The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has revealed that Nigeria and other West African countries now account for more than half of the global deaths caused by violent extremism and terrorism.
This was disclosed by ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, during his goodwill message at the inaugural Annual International Public Lecture organized by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.
The lecture’s theme was “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2014): Genesis, Impact and Lessons for Nigeria.”
Touray, represented by Isaac Armstrong from ECOWAS’s Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, referenced the Global Terrorism Index report, which shows a shift in the epicentre of terrorism from the Middle East to the Central Sahel region.
He noted that ECOWAS member states bear a significant portion of this burden, with 50% of terrorism victims globally coming from the region.
According to him, Burkina Faso has been hardest hit by terrorism, with deaths rising by 68% despite a 17% drop in attacks.
Touray expressed concern over the rising spread of terrorist attacks, which initially concentrated in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, but have now extended to the coastal countries of West Africa.
The president highlighted the severe humanitarian consequences, noting that insecurity has exacerbated food shortages, displacement, and the closure of schools.
He noted that in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger alone, 4.8 million people face food insecurity, 2.4 million are internally displaced, and nearly 9,000 schools remain closed.
He further stated that Burkina Faso has the highest number of displaced persons, with around 2 million, while Mali and Niger have nearly half a million each.
Touray provided data on the toll of terrorism in the region, citing 1,605 recorded attacks leading to 6,956 fatalities.
Burkina Faso saw 611 attacks with 3,810 deaths, Mali had 546 attacks resulting in 1,424 fatalities, Nigeria experienced 238 attacks with 905 deaths, and Niger had 153 attacks with 676 fatalities.
Benin and Togo also witnessed terrorist activities, with 44 attacks causing 66 deaths in Benin and 13 attacks leading to 75 deaths in Togo.
The report also revealed that in 2023 alone, 3,587 terrorist incidents were recorded in the ECOWAS region, resulting in nearly 9,000 deaths.
The Sahelian nations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger were most affected, while Benin and Togo also experienced violent extremism in their coastal regions.
Acknowledging the transnational nature of terrorism, Touray highlighted the collective actions ECOWAS member states are taking to combat the scourge.
These initiatives include the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (MNJTF), the Nouakchott Process under the African Union, and the Accra Initiative.
Additionally, European Union and United Nations-backed missions, such as EUCAP Sahel Niger and MINUSMA, have supported regional efforts.
Touray also mentioned ongoing efforts by ECOWAS to establish a 5,000-strong kinetic force under the ECOWAS standby force to intensify the fight against terrorism, which is in line with directives from ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
He said such efforts indicate the bloc’s commitment to addressing the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa and the Sahel region.