Cliff Notes – Nigeria state leaders demand action against militant attacks
- Nigeria state leaders urge the Nigerian government to reassess counter-insurgency strategies in light of recent violence, which claimed over 100 lives last month.
- The NEGF emphasises a multifaceted approach to tackle the root causes of the insurgency, including youth employment and improved education, alongside military measures.
- Concerns grow as Boko Haram and ISWAP reportedly consolidate forces, adopting new combat tactics, while regional military collaborations face setbacks following Niger’s withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force.
Nigeria state leaders demand action against militant attacks
State governors from northeastern Nigeria called on the government on Thursday to put forward a new strategy to tackle an upsurge in Islamist militant attacks.
The governors of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba and Bauchi took part in the 11th North-East Governors Forum (NEGF) amid renewed violence that left more than 100 people dead last month.
Taraba state governor Agbu Kefas said in a closing statement, “The forum… calls for the armed forces, other security agencies and community leaders to reappraise their strategy in the counter-insurgency onslaught in the region.”
Is the Islamist militant insurgency in Nigeria getting stronger?
A 16-year insurgency has ravaged the region, killing tens of thousands, displacing two million, and causing major damage to the local economy.
While the main militant group Boko Haram, as well as its splinter group, the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had lost ground to the Nigerian military, a recent spate of attacks has sparked concerns that the violence could once again spread.
The two former rivals have reportedly resolved some of their differences, allowing them to concentrate on fighting Nigeria’s security forces.
They have also updated their combat tactics, employing drones and explosive devices.
Counter-insurgency forces have also suffered setbacks, with Niger pulling out of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) that carried out cross-border patrols and intelligence sharing.
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