Zainab Gimba, a Nigerian parliament member of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has called for the immediate funding of Joint Taskforce to tackle the increasing violent terrorism going on in West Africa and the Sahel region.
Gimba made the call at the ongoing 2025 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja early this week.
Moving the motion: Strengthening Regional Security Cooperation In Response To The Escalating Threat Of Terrorism And Violent Extremism In West Africa and the Sahel, Gimba blames the increasing violence in West African and Sahel to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali from ECOWAS.
She lamented that the resurgence of Boko-Haram terrorists’ attacks in recent weeks is a clear manifestation of the strength the terrorists groups have gathered during their absence.
”Allow me to paint a picture of the situation for you to clearly conceptualize my concern.
”According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, violent conflict remains the primary driver of terrorism, with over 90% of attacks and 98% of terrorism deaths in 2023 occurring in conflict zones.
”An arrested bandit in Zamfara confirmed that instability in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali not only facilitates their operations but also provides a direct source of weaponry. That is, however, not the main concern.
”My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that regionally, the impact of terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounts for just under 59% of all fatalities globally; and the Sahel accounted for 19% of all terrorist attacks worldwide and 51% of global terrorism-related deaths in 2024—an increase from 48% in 2023,” she explained.
She said however, that despite the terrorists’ attacks in Nigeria, expecially in the Northeast region, where she toured affected terrains days before the parliament with Borno State governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, they are still continuing with the ongoing relocation of internally displaced persons to their communities, while also raising concerns over their security.
”Mr. Speaker, I have personally, alongside my state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, visited some of these areas under military protection to resettle displaced communities and engage with troops,” she said.
Gimba is also the House of Representative member in Nigeria’s Green Chamber, representing Bama, Nglaa, Kala-Balge federal constituency.
The lawmaker also recalled that earlier this month, just five days before the commencement of the session, Boko Haram attacked farming communities near Baga town in her state, Borno resulting in the slaughter of 40 farmers at Dawoshi, 22 civilians killed at Malam Karamti and another 15 individuals reported executed at Dabar Giwa.
”These inhuman atrocities were reportedly carried out as punishment for non-payment of illegal “taxes” imposed by the group. Such illegality must not be tolerated. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!,” Gimba noted.
Stating further, she moved that the ‘Parliament urgently pass a Resolution endorsing ongoing dialogue with AES States (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger) to reintegrate them into ECOWAS security frameworks and support joint action under the Accra Initiative and ECOWAS Standby Force, per the 2020–2024 counter-terrorism action plan.
”A Resolution be passed urging ECOWAS member states to improve funding for the Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin and deploy rapid-response forces to high-risk areas across the Sahel and coastal West Africa.
”The ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Network (ECOWARN) be strengthened to anticipate, track, and disrupt arms trafficking and insurgent migration, and to pre-empt threats.
”A Resolution be passed for enhanced support to the ECOWAS Regional Food and Agricultural Agency to better meet the food security needs of conflict-displaced populations,” she explained.
