Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has warned that the worsening security situation across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel region continues to intensify insecurity within Nigeria, describing the instability as a major driver of terrorism, banditry and cross-border criminal activities.
The Army Chief said the prolonged conflicts and weak security structures across neighbouring countries have enabled armed groups, extremist organisations and transnational criminal networks to move freely across porous borders, posing an increasing threat to Nigeria’s national security.
According to the COAS, the deteriorating security landscape in the region has complicated the military’s efforts to combat insurgency and other violent crimes, stressing that the challenges confronting Nigeria can no longer be viewed in isolation.
He emphasised that restoring lasting peace requires stronger regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated military operations among countries within the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel. He added that sustained collaboration would be critical to dismantling terrorist networks, disrupting illicit arms trafficking and preventing the movement of armed groups across international borders.
The Army Chief further reaffirmed the Nigerian military’s commitment to protecting the country’s territorial integrity, assuring citizens that security forces would continue to adapt their strategies to confront emerging threats while working closely with regional and international partners.
His remarks come amid persistent concerns over the activities of insurgent groups, bandits and other armed criminal organisations operating across Nigeria’s northern regions, many of which security experts believe are linked to the broader instability affecting the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.
