President Muhammadu Buhari has
told West African leaders that the ease with which terrorist groups, including
Boko Haram access funds and acquire sophisticated weapons is a serious concern.
Buhari said this during the
extraordinary summit of ECOWAS heads of state and government on
counter-terrorism, taking place in Burkina Faso.
The president said though West
African countries have made significant progress in combating terrorism,
regional integration is still being threatened.
He also said Nigeria has been a
“major victim of Boko Haram terrorist activities”, but that the country remains
resolute in the efforts to eradicate them in all forms.
“’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,” he said in a
statement issued by Femi Adesina, his spokesman.
”Equally worrisome, is the
continuing spread of the menace of terrorism in the region and the growing link
between terrorism and organised crime.
“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.”
Buhari lamented the impact of
terrorism on the Lake Chad Basin, which he said used to serve as “an area
abundant in natural resources providing livelihoods to tens of millions of
people”.
“The area has become an abode for
terrorist groups and extremists,” he said, while calling on West African
countries to “galvanise international support and solidarity to combat and
defeat this menace in our region”.
The president’s comment comes
shortly after the New York Times reported how Boko Haram insurgents are
upgrading their operations with improved weapons and drones, while the Nigerian
military is fighting the insurgents with inefficient tactics and obsolete
weapons.
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Was this terrorist not degraded anymore?we are watching o.
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