President Muhammadu Buhari in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso
on Saturday, urged ECOWAS leaders not to allow terrorist groups
destabilise the region.
”Our region has made commendable progress in the realisation of its
regional integration and we must not allow terrorist groups to
destabilise our community and undermine the aspirations of our people
for a safe, secure and prosperous environment,” President Buhari said
in his speech at the Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of ECOWAS
Heads of State and Government on Counter-Terrorism.
”It is, therefore, our collective responsibility not to let up but to
win the fight against terrorism and stamp out the scourge from our
region,” he added.
President Buhari, who joined other ECOWAS leaders for the special
one-day Summit, which was also attended by leaders of Chad and
Mauritania, decried that terrorism, today, has become a major security
threat across the globe.
He warned that the activities of terrorist groups constitute a grave
danger to peace and security in West Africa, the wider Sahel and the
global community.
”The frequency of attacks, the determination and resilience of the
terrorist groups as well as the ease with which they raise funds and
acquire sophisticated weapons are matters of serious concern which
should engage our attention as a community.
”Equally worrisome, is the continuing spread of the menace of
terrorism in the region and the growing link between terrorism and
organised crime.
”This is why we must not relent in our efforts until we defeat the
monster completely.
”And the best way to achieve this objective is through coordinated
regional actions and responses against terrorism, insurgency,
banditry, inter-communal disputes while we also put in place policies
and measures that will address their root causes including the
re-establishment and protection of livelihoods,” he said.
Sharing the experience of Nigeria in fighting the scourge, the
president told the summit:
”As a major victim of Boko Haram terrorist activities, Nigeria has
remained resolute in efforts to combat and eradicate them in all their
forms and manifestations.
”Our counter-terrorism strategy which includes prevention, prosecution
and reconstruction is also in full compliance with the Yamoussoukro
counter-terrorism strategy adopted by ECOWAS Member States.
”In combating terrorism and addressing the resultant humanitarian
crisis, through regional and international collaboration, ECOWAS as a
Regional Economic Cooperation, would need in partnership with the
African Union, to galvanise international support and solidarity to
combat and defeat this menace in our region”.
The Nigerian leader also used the occasion to apprise the regional
leaders on the situation in the Lake Chad Basin and the operations of
the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
