The recent revelation by the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) that the influx of foreign fighters is reinforcing terrorist attacks in the North-East and North-West regions is disturbing. The Director of Defence Media Operation, Major-General Edward Buba, who disclosed this, said the terrorists came from the Sahel region. Buba also pointed out that the foreign fighters are being tacitly assisted by local collaborators that form a support base for these terrorists. He claimed that the local collaborators serve as informants to the terrorist and give them timely report about troop movement.
The DHQ revelation came on the heels of recent terrorist attacks in Borno and Katsina states, which claimed scores of lives. In Borno State, 40 farmers were killed by the invading terrorists. The State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum and State Information Commissioner Usman Tar, accused fighters from the Boko Haram group and ISIL (ISIS) affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) of carrying out the attack.
Also, not less than 21 persons were killed and several others declared missing after bandits invaded Baure village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State. Similarly, the emergence of Lakurawa, a new terror group, has compounded the state of insecurity in Sokoto State and other parts of the country. The DHQ explained that the group infiltrated from the Republic of Niger after the recent coup, which disrupted military cooperation between Nigeria and the country.
According to DHQ, joint border operations with Nigerien security forces, previously in place before the coup, had kept the terrorists at bay. The terrorists took advantage of the gaps in cooperation between both countries and made incursions into remote areas in some North-Western states to spread their ideology. In disturbing show of audacity, members of the group had started imposing their brand of worship on some local government areas in Sokoto State and had commenced exerting tolls from the residents.
There is every reason for the government to be concerned about the influx and spread of foreign fighters into the country. Foreigners should not be allowed to constitute threats to the sovereignty of the country. No efforts should be spared in halting the influx of the marauding elements and their local collaborators. Only the government should have the monopoly of instruments of coercion in enforcing law and order. On no account should external forces be allowed to have foothold in the country. This is the time for the military and other security agencies to tackle the terrorists.
It is encouraging that the Defence Headquarters has assured that despite the challenge, the military is committed to combating terrorism and other security challenges in the country. However, there is the need to ensure that this goes beyond official pronouncements. Let the terrorists be utterly decimated before it is too late. The security agencies must share intelligence and work in concert to defeat the terrorists.
This is the time to strengthen the country’s border security measures to prevent infiltration of terrorists from neighboring countries. Since the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders contributes to the country’s security challenges, the government should secure these borders forthwith. No doubt, unmanned borders contribute to the escalation of banditry, kidnapping, and other security challenges in the country. The House of Representatives had on the same matter, earlier mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Army and Interior to interface with the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, respectively, on the best ways of policing and securing Nigeria borders.
Concerned citizens and groups such as Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), comprising elders and statesmen from the Southern and North Central geo-political zones of the country had also warned on the activities of infiltrators from other nations. These are issues that should not be taken lightly. Nigeria has large stretch of porous and poorly policed borders, leaving criminal elements to stream into the country unchecked. Statistics indicated that there were about 1,500 identified land border crossings into Nigeria, with only 114, covering 4,000 square kilometers, approved control posts manned by merely 23,000 Immigration officials and other security agencies.
Nigeria also has international land borders of about 4,470 km (2,513 miles) with Chad Republic, Cameroon, Benin and Niger and a coastline of 774km which are largely unmanned. These are the loopholes the marauders exploit to slip into the country. Tightening the land borders will drastically reduce the influx of foreign invaders. The Police and other security agencies should rise up to their responsibilities in this respect.
The situation also requires the cooperation of our neighboring countries. The provisions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Treaty on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Establishment, should not be enough reason for questionable characters to be allowed access into the country.