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ECOWAS Speaker Decries Rising Terrorism Violent Extremism , Organised Crime in West Africa
ECOWAS Speaker Decries Rising Terrorism Violent Extremism , Organised Crime in West Africa
By: Michael Mike
Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, has decried the increasing surge in the threat of terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime in West African sub-region.
Speaking during the 2024 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Ibrahima expressed gratitude to Almighty God, Creator and Originator of all things, saying that out of His unending kindness, he has enabled the parliament to meet at the National Assembly, which is highly symbolic of the Parliament’s commitment to viable and sincere sub-regional integration.
Ibrahima who said that the session is taking place in a difficult international context for the entire planet earth, insisted that as the world had barely emerged from pandemics and epidemics, although not fully, but still grappling with a number of scourges and challenges, such as poverty, climate change, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the conflict in the Middle East, to name but a few.
She said: “Unfortunately, the problems are compounded by another phenomenon of staggering proportions in the region, namely the upsurge in the threat of terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime, which is costing the lives of our valiant defence and security forces, as well as thousands of innocent people.”
Ibrahim’s said there are various political, economic and security crises in several member states which the 6th Legislature must urgently help to address, adding that:
“These include the desire expressed by three of our member states to withdraw from the Community, as well as the growing tensions between the Republics of Benin and Niger, not to mention other constant concerns in the region such as terrorism, food insecurity, irregular migration and the adverse effects of climate change.”
She noted that discussions on the various issues led to the adoption by Parliament of what is known as the “Kano Declaration,”
stressing that by means of the declaration, the ECOWAS Parliament resolved, among other things, to set up an ad hoc mediation committee to initiate and maintain not only dialogue with the authorities of the different countries, but also communication among the various populations.
She noted that the Parliament also resolved to conduct field visits to understand and help settle disagreements between the two friendly and sister nations, Benin and Niger and to encourage the ECOWAS Commission to expedite the implementation of the joint defence strategy to fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
“I want to assure you that, during its last two meetings, the Bureau of Parliament discussed these recommendations at length, and urgent actions are being taken in collaboration with other ECOWAS institutions to implement them,” Ibrahima disclosed.
In his remarks, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, said besides the many threats related to peace and security, as well as challenges related to poverty, the West African region is also facing the risks of disintegration.
He said: “As you all know, on January 29th, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger notified the Commission of their intention to leave ECOWAS with immediate effect.
“Our people – the people of West Africa – have lived within an integrated ECOWAS community for several decades. Populations have benefited from freedom of movement within our ECOWAS space and have begun to perceive the advantages of our common market where local products are traded freely in a market of over 400 million inhabitants. In addition, the use of a common passport and a common biometric identity card for travel within our community space has been introduced.
“Given these advantages, it is clear that disintegration will not only disrupt the freedom of movement and establishment of people, but it will also aggravate insecurity in the region. More specifically, the withdrawal of the three aforementioned countries will deal a severe blow to security cooperation, particularly in terms of intelligence sharing and participation in the fight against regional terrorism and other joint security initiatives, such as the operationalization of the ECOWAS standby force that our member states’ defense ministers have just agreed to activate, as well as the Accra Initiative and the Multinational Joint Taskforce,” Touray said.
Touray also said the withdrawal of the three countries could also lead to diplomatic and political isolation on the international stage, as the countries will no longer be able to benefit from bloc support when their citizens or candidates seek international positions within the African Union, the United Nations, and similar bodies.
“This withdrawal will also affect travel and immigration conditions for citizens of these three countries, as they will now have to apply for visas before traveling within the sub-region. Citizens of these countries may no longer be able to reside or freely create businesses within the facilities established by ECOWAS and may be subject to various national laws. Additionally, these three countries will have to cease using ECOWAS passports, the ECOWAS biometric national identity card, and the ECOWAS “Brown Card” automobile insurance on a regional scale.
“Economically and financially, the withdrawal of the three member states could lead to the cessation or suspension of all projects and programs implemented by ECOWAS in these countries, valued at over 500 million US dollars.
“It is also worth noting that the two regional financial institutions, namely the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), have significant investments in these three countries. EBID has 27 projects currently in these three countries, with a total value estimated at around 321.634 million US dollars, of which 38.1 percent are public sector projects and 61.9 percent are private sector projects. The banking portfolio in these three countries represents approximately 22.5 percent of the total bank portfolio in the 15 member states. The three countries have contributed a total of 33.135 million US dollars to the bank’s capital.
“Institutionally, it is worth noting that the withdrawal of the three countries will result in the closure of four ECOWAS regional entities in Burkina Faso, two ECOWAS regional bodies in Mali, and one ECOWAS regional office in Niger. This will also affect the job security of approximately 130 ECOWAS staff citizens of the three countries, distributed as follows: 77 from Burkina Faso; 23 from Mali; and 32 from Niger,” Touray also said.
ECOWAS Speaker Decries Rising Terrorism Violent Extremism , Organised Crime in West Africa
Nigerian Solidarity Groups Mourn Cubans Killed in Venezuela, Condemn U.S. Actions
By: Michael Mike
The Nigeria Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (NMSC) has expressed deep condolences to the government and people of Cuba following the killing of 32 Cuban internationalists in Venezuela.
In a press statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the pro-people coalition, which includes labour unions, civil society organisations and intellectuals, alleged that the Cuban nationals were killed during an attack in Caracas on January 3, 2026, while protecting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, his wife, Cilia Flores, and what it described as the sovereignty of Venezuela.
The group said the Cubans chose to resist despite being overwhelmed, describing their actions as a demonstration of courage, honour and commitment to international solidarity.
NMSC drew parallels between the incident and past historical events where Cuban nationals were involved in overseas struggles, including the 1983 U.S.-led invasion of Grenada and Cuba’s military support for African liberation movements in Angola, Namibia and South Africa during the fight against apartheid.
According to the organisation, thousands of Cuban youths lost their lives in Africa while contributing to the dismantling of apartheid systems backed by Western powers. The group noted that Cuba’s internationalism has not been limited to armed conflicts, citing the country’s long-standing medical outreach to developing nations, including Nigeria.
The statement also recalled Cuba’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it dispatched medical teams to dozens of countries and received hundreds of stranded cruise ship passengers at a time many nations had closed their borders.
NMSC extended its sympathy to the families of those killed in Venezuela and called on the United States government to respect international law, halt what it described as foreign military interventions, and lift sanctions imposed on Cuba, Venezuela and other countries.
The group further aligned itself with repeated resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly calling for the end to the decades-long U.S. embargo against Cuba, insisting that global peace and development require cooperation rather than conflict.
The statement was signed by veteran labour activist and writer, Owei Lakemfa, on behalf of the Nigeria Movement of Solidarity with Cuba
Nigerian Solidarity Groups Mourn Cubans Killed in Venezuela, Condemn U.S. Actions
News
NGX’s N100 trillion milestone, proof of growing sophistication of Nigeria’s capital market- Stockbrokers
NGX’s N100 trillion milestone, proof of growing sophistication of Nigeria’s capital market- Stockbrokers
The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) and the Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) have congratulated the Board, Management, and staff of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc and Nigerian Exchange Limited on the historic achievement of the Nigerian capital market crossing the N100 trillion market capitalisation mark.
The commendation was issued via a press statement on Friday, jointly signed by Mr Samuel Sehinde Adenagbe, Chairman, Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria and Mr Oluropo Dada, the 13th President/Chairman of Council Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.
They described the NGX’s achievement as a remarkable milestone and a major affirmation of the resilience, depth, and growing sophistication of Nigeria’s capital market, and a clear signal of renewed investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
“Crossing the N100 trillion threshold is not only a symbolic landmark; it reflects the capacity of Nigeria’s capital market to mobilise long-term funds for infrastructure, enterprise development, and economic transformation.
“It underscores the vital role of the market in financing growth, creating wealth for investors, and supporting national development objectives,” the said.
According to them, the achievement will not have been possible without the visionary leadership and strategic direction of the NGX Board, as well as the professionalism and dedication of its Management and staff, led by versatile stockbrokers: Dr. Umaru Kwairanga; Mr. Temi Popoola; and Mr. Jude Chiemeka and Mr. Femi Sobanjo.
“We also commend the unwavering commitment and versatility of dealing member firms and stockbrokers who continue to serve as the backbone of the market, ensuring liquidity, transparency, and investor protection.
“Their collective efforts have strengthened market integrity, broadened participation, and improved the overall efficiency of the Exchange.”
The CIS and ASHON also commend the Federal Government of Nigeria for providing a supportive macroeconomic and regulatory environment that has encouraged domestic and foreign investment, promoted market reforms, and enhanced the attractiveness of Nigerian assets.
They stated that policy stability, ongoing reforms, and a clear commitment to private sector-led growth have played a crucial role in creating the conditions for this historic market expansion.
They further commended SEC for providing sound regulations and market development.
They stated that the CIS and ASHON would continue to advocate ethical governance in the capital market with all stakeholder playing by the rules of the game.
They further restated their commitment to sustaining the momentum through robust regulation provided by Securities and Exchange Commission, market innovation, and strong investor protection frameworks.
“We look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to further deepen the market, broaden product offerings, and ensure that the Nigerian capital market continues to serve as a strong engine for inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”
NGX’s N100 trillion milestone, proof of growing sophistication of Nigeria’s capital market- Stockbrokers
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, under the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP), have neutralised a notorious bandit and recovered arms and ammunition during a raid on a hideout in Plateau State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted on Jan. 8 at Yolan Gboka–Yama Da Lahdi, following sustained efforts to track and arrest perpetrators of the Dec. 16, 2025 attack on illegal miners at Tosho community in Fann District, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
According to the sources, troops made contact with the bandits during the raid and engaged them in a firefight.
“One of the bandits was neutralised during the exchange of fire and was later identified as Sadiq Isah, while others fled the area,” the sources said.
The sources added that troops subsequently exploited the hideout and recovered two AK-47 rifles and 162 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition.
The recovered arms and ammunition are currently in military custody, while troops have commenced follow-up operations to intercept the fleeing suspects and prevent further criminal activities in the area.
Zagazola reports that Operation Enduring Peace is a joint security initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability across Plateau and neighbouring states.
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
Nigerian Solidarity Groups Mourn Cubans Killed in Venezuela, Condemn U.S. Actions
NGX’s N100 trillion milestone, proof of growing sophistication of Nigeria’s capital market- Stockbrokers
Troops neutralise bandit, recover arms in Plateau raid
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