6,956 wasted in West Africa terror attacks, ECOWAS plans regional force
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has disclosed that 1,605 terrorist attacks have been recorded between January and August 2024 in West Africa with a total of 6,956 casualties.
Determined to tackle terrorism in the region, the Economic Community of West African States Heads of State is planning to institute a 5,000-man-kinetic force to tackle terrorism in the region.
The president of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the International lecture organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
While giving the breakdown of the figure, Touray who was represented by the Programme Officer, Regional Security Division, Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, ECOWAS Commission, Isaac Armstrong, said Burkina Faso accounted for 611 attacks and 3,810 fatalities; Mali 546 with 1424 attacks, Nigeria 238 attacks with 905 fatalities, Niger 153 attacks with 676 fatalities; Benin 44 attacks with 66 fatalities and Togo 13 attacks with 75 fatalities.
“On the directives of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, efforts are ongoing to set up a 5000-man – Kinetic Force to fight against Terrorism using the platform of the ECOWAS Standby. This regional resolve does not take away the responsibility bestowed on individual Member States to take full ownership of their National Security responsibilities,” Touray said.
“Undoubtedly, Terrorism is the major security threat faced by ECOWAS Member States. Initially confined to certain countries in the Sahel (Mali and Niger) and the Lake Chad Basin (Nigeria), terrorist attacks have multiplied and spread to other countries (Burkina Faso) and are now a real threat to coastal countries (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo),” he added.
