Nigeria advised to forge alliance with sahel states to stem jihadist expansion

By: Zagazola Makama

Security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has called on Nigeria to urgently forge a practical and trust-based alliance with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to halt the rapid expansion of jihadist networks from the Greater Sahel into littoral West Africa.

Makama, known for his authoritative insights on Lake Chad and Sahel security dynamics, made the call in an advisory released on Tuesday. He emphasised that the recent surge in jihadist activities particularly by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) now poses a direct threat to Nigeria and its neighbours along the Atlantic coast.

According to him, this rising tide of extremism demands a unified response that transcends political divides, ideological alignments, and historical grievances.

Nigeria must lead the charge

Makama urged Nigeria to take the lead in initiating a regional counterterrorism alliance involving AES members Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger as well as neighbouring states like Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), Sudan, and Libya.

He said Nigeria’s experience in fighting Boko Haram and ISWAP, its strong military assets, and its leadership role in ECOWAS position it as a natural leader in this proposed coalition.

“The threat is no longer confined to the Sahel. Jihadist groups are pushing southward with clear intent to destabilise littoral states such as Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Nigeria is the buffer, and if Nigeria is overwhelmed, the entire subregion could unravel,” Makama warned.

He advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman, to convene a summit with AES leaders Capt. Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Col. Assimi Goïta of Mali, and Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger.

“Let Nigeria rise above politics and take the initiative. A united African front is the only way to roll back the tide of extremism in the region,” he added.

Security collaboration and intelligence sharing

Makama recommended the creation of a joint regional intelligence platform that would allow real-time sharing of information on jihadist movements, recruitment cells, and financing.

He called for a regional military alliance capable of launching cross border operations against terror enclaves in the Liptako-Gourma triangle and along the Nigeria-Niger border where ISSP is recruiting among Fulani youths under its “Lakurawa” network. Nigeria has the air power, AES has the ground knowledge. Coordinated, precision-led strikes are possible if trust is built and maintained,” he said.

Tackling the roots of terror

Beyond kinetic responses, Makama stressed the need for socio-economic interventions to address the root causes of radicalisation. He proposed joint investment in agriculture, road infrastructure, youth employment schemes, and cross-border trade corridors.

He also urged Nigeria to support AES countries with agricultural technology and capacity-building to reduce rural poverty and food insecurity conditions often exploited by jihadist groups. “An idle young man in Gao or Tillaberi is the perfect prey for terrorists. Development is as important as the gun in this war,” he said.

Border control and propaganda warfare

To contain the spread of jihadists and arms across porous frontiers, Makama advised the deployment of drones, surveillance systems, and joint patrols. He further proposed expanding Nigeria’s current border security framework in the Lake Chad Basin to cover AES border zones.

Makama also urged Nigeria to share the successes and methodologies of its deradicalisation programme, Operation Safe Corridor, with AES states.

“Jihadists use narratives to recruit and hold territory. We must counter them with stronger narratives ones rooted in culture, faith, and community resilience,” he noted.

Bringing in CAR, Sudan and Libya

Makama said the conflicts in Libya, Sudan, and CAR continue to fuel instability in the Sahel, as they serve as arms depots and transit points for fighters. He called for Nigeria and AES to extend their security coordination to these countries, using platforms such as the African Union and ECCAS.

He suggested engaging the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east and western government factions separately, while also advocating for the inclusion of a Sahel-specific security agenda in AU-led peace talks on Sudan.

Neutrality and trust-building

Makama acknowledged the current mistrust between AES and ECOWAS, and the geopolitical divergence between Nigeria’s Western alliances and AES’s turn toward Russia. He proposed Togo and Senegal as neutral mediators in convening the proposed summit.

He commended Nigeria’s new visa-free policy for Africans as a step toward soft power diplomacy and urged for inter-community dialogue among Fulani, Tuareg, and Hausa groups to reduce ethnic tensions fueling extremism.

“Our cultures connect us. Our borders divide us. We must return to our shared African identity and fight together,” Makama said.

“We are running out of time. The jihadists are adapting, expanding, and exploiting every gap. If we don’t build a continental firewall today, we will be fighting fires on the Atlantic coast tomorrow.”

He called on Nigerian leadership to rise above regional politics and act decisively in shaping a continental security response capable of restoring peace, order, and development in the Sahel and beyond.

By bridging the Sahel and coastal states through collaboration, trust, and mutual interest, Nigeria and its neighbours can stem the tide of extremist violence threatening regional stability.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region

Nigeria advised to forge alliance with sahel states to stem jihadist expansion