Jihadist Expansion Reshapes Border Areas of Niger, Nigeria and Benin – Report

Jihadist Expansion Reshapes Border Areas of Niger, Nigeria and Benin – Report

By: Zagazola Makama

Violent campaigns by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are reshaping security dynamics across the border areas of Niger, Nigeria, and Benin, according to a new security analysis.

The report indicates that the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) have significantly expanded their operations southward from traditional Sahel strongholds, transforming border regions such as Dosso in Niger, Alibori in Benin, and parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states in Nigeria into active conflict zones.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) confirms a sharp rise in politically motivated violence in the affected regions, with reported incidents and fatalities more than doubling since 2023.

The report underscores that both JNIM and ISSP are leveraging porous borders to consolidate their presence, establish proto-state structures, and complicate military containment efforts, all while exploiting local economies and illicit trade routes to fund their operations.

Emergence of a New Frontline

JNIM, formed in 2017 through the merger of four Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups, has adopted a strategy of building local alliances and embedding within communities. Its expansion into Benin, Ghana and Togo began from strongholds in eastern Burkina Faso and southwest Niger.

In contrast, ISSP, with roots in Mali’s Ménaka region and Niger’s Tahoua and Tillabéri regions, has intensified its activities in central Dosso, targeting infrastructure such as the Benin-Niger oil pipeline. The group also employs economic warfare tactics, including the collection of zakat (Islamic tax), control of supply corridors, and attacks on critical installations.

The report dismissed media claims about a new group called “Lakurawa” operating in the Niger-Nigeria border region, noting that fighters under this label are part of ISSP networks long established in Dosso, Sokoto, and Kebbi.

Tensions and Territorial Rivalries

JNIM and ISSP operations now overlap in Dosso, particularly in Gaya and Dioundiou communes, leading to competition and possible future confrontations. While both groups have so far coexisted in some areas, experts warn that their history of violent rivalry, especially in Mali’s Liptako-Gourma region, may soon spark conflict.

Recent incidents, such as the February 22 attack on villages near Koutoumbou in Dioundiou, attributed to ISSP, mark a shift toward mass atrocities against civilians, signaling a dangerous escalation.

The expansion of militant control is reshaping social structures and local economies. Both groups are embedding within communities, using religious outreach, propaganda, and coercion to recruit fighters, preach in mosques, and impose strict interpretations of Sharia law.

In parts of northern Benin and Niger, local economies are being co-opted to serve militant logistics, with communities coerced into supporting illicit fuel and goods trade.

This militant entrenchment is also driving the rise of local self-defense groups such as the Yansakai in Nigeria’s northwest and the Zankai in Niger’s Tillabéri region. While these groups aim to protect their communities, they also risk fuelling ethnic tensions and communal violence.

Regional Security Efforts

In response to the deteriorating security environment, the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced plans to form a joint force of 5,000 troops. The force is part of broader efforts by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to counter jihadist threats after their withdrawal from ECOWAS.

However, the report notes that lingering diplomatic tensions—particularly between Niger and Benin, and Niger and Nigeria—have hindered coordinated action along the tri-border region, enabling jihadist expansion.

It called for a renewed emphasis on regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and inclusive counterinsurgency strategies that address the socio-economic roots of extremism.

The findings add urgency to discussions about strengthening security collaboration among West African states, especially as jihadist movements continue to evolve and adapt to the region’s complex political and geographical landscape.

Jihadist Expansion Reshapes Border Areas of Niger, Nigeria and Benin – Report