The recent withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised significant security concerns for Nigeria, with experts warning of potential threats from insurgent groups.
Mike Ejiofor, former director-general, Department of State Services (DSS), said their exit could raise issues of cross-border terrorism, refugees, and weakened regional cooperation.
According to him, the political and security situations in these countries directly impact Nigeria’s stability, noting that the loss of ECOWAS unity means that Nigeria may have to take more significant unilateral action to safeguard its borders and national interests.
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In an interview with BusinessDay, he stressed that while the fragmentation of ECOWAS poses challenges, it should not prevent Nigeria from maintaining diplomatic and security relations with the departing nations.
Ejiofor highlighted Nigeria’s porous borders as a major security risk, especially in the absence of a robust multinational patrol system.
“These countries, especially Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, have been experiencing a rise in insurgency, particularly from groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the Sahel. These groups operate in the porous borders and can spill over into Nigeria. The Boko Haram insurgency, which has plagued Nigeria for years, has ties to these regional groups.”
He emphasised the need for urgent action to prevent external threats from spilling into Nigeria, urging the federal government to strengthen the borders and enhance security ties with neighbouring countries.
“We should strengthen our borders, especially between those three countries, to prevent external security threats from escalating,” he said.
Ejiofor called for increased collaboration between security agencies, including the military, immigration services, and intelligence units, to prevent infiltration by terrorist groups.
Security experts also warn that as these countries exit ECOWAS, there may be weakened regional cooperation in terms of intelligence sharing, border security, and coordinated military action.
This could lead to increased attacks and instability along Nigeria’s northern borders, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions already facing terrorist threats
While Ejiofor acknowledged this risk, he remained optimistic about Nigeria’s ability to contain emerging threats with the right measures in place.
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“You can’t rule out the possibility that they might try to take advantage, but if the right measures are in place, we should be able to contain whatever challenges arise,” he stated.
Another issue that has been raised is that without regional cooperation, terrorist organisations could expand their influence, using unguarded borders as supply routes and operational bases.
Ejiofor also addressed concerns over increasing casualties among Nigerian soldiers fighting insurgency, stressing the need for caution in military operations.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, national coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), blamed the bloc’s failure to prevent military coups and enforce democratic principles for the current crisis.
“For decades, Nigeria has played a stabilising role in West Africa, leading peacekeeping efforts and investing in ECOWAS operations. However, under the current leadership, ECOWAS has lost its authority, leading to fragmentation,” he stated.
He warned that these nations could now seek stronger ties with non-African powers like Russia, potentially undermining regional unity and security cooperation.
Despite the weakening of ECOWAS, security experts argue that Nigeria must establish direct security agreements with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to maintain stability.
“The fact that they left ECOWAS does not mean we can’t have bilateral security agreements. People will continue to migrate across borders, and it is in our mutual interest to cooperate on security matters,” Ejiofor explained.
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Onwubiko also called for increased border surveillance technology and military presence along Nigeria’s northern frontiers to prevent infiltration by insurgents.
Additionally, he criticized the policy of releasing captured Boko Haram fighters, advocating instead for full prosecution of insurgents.
“The Nigerian military is capable, but military action alone is not enough. We need intelligence-sharing, stronger border control, and a clear policy on handling insurgents,” he stressed.
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