Korea Moves to Improve Relationship with Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Government of South Korea has disclosed its ongoing moves to foster new partnerships with Nigerian institutions, cultural leaderships and also strengthen youth engagements.

The latest move is part of the efforts put in place by the Korea Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN) to mark its 15th year anniversary in Nigeria,

The director KCCN, Mr. Kim Changki, who spoke at the opening ceremony of events lined up to mark the Centre’s anniversary in Abuja, appreciated Nigeria and Nigerians for embracing the Korean culture, as he urged them to support the drive to rewrite the story of unity, culture, and creativity amongst Korea and Nigeria

He said: “15 years ago, in 2010, we opened the doors of the Korean Cultural Center here in Abuja, and we planted a seed, a hope to build bridges between Korea and Nigeria through culture, education, and friendship.

“Today, the seed has grown into a vibrant edifice bearing the rich fruits of collaboration. From K-pop to Korean cuisine, language classes, to film screenings, indoor and outdoor events.

“Our mission has always been clear, to share Korea’s heart with Nigeria. This journey has not been ours alone

“It has been made possible by your support; the Nigerian people, our partners, artists, students, diplomatic community, and of course, our cultural institutes, who have welcomed Korean culture with open hearts.

“As we look ahead, we affirm our commitment to deepening this cultural exchange. Together, let us continue to write the story of unity, culture, and creativity.”

The Event Manager KCCN, Yunjin Lee noted that the Centre was committed to facilitating more educational and cultural exchange programmes, and also partner with Nigerian institutions on both art and instrument exhibitions, film festivals amongst many other cultural programmes.

She said: “We’re going to present more about Nigerian side so that we can facilitate more about cultural exchange. People can be more related with the K-food because there’s a lot of similarities. These days, when you search on internet, it’s really easier to find the recipes so I think there can be more exchanges.

“There is an upcoming educational programme in KCCN, the K-pop academy so i think we can focus on exchanges between the youths because we are having a lot of educational programmes and youths are really important in the future.
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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

The Dahalo of Madagascar and Cattle Rustlers in the Lake Chad Basin, a Shared Threat Beyond Borders

By: Zagazola Makama

In the heart of Africa and the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, two seemingly distant threats share a dangerous commonality: the Dahalo and cattle rustlers. Though they exist in different geographical, cultural, and political contexts, both groups have metamorphosed from traditional raiders into well-armed, highly networked criminal enterprises with disturbing implications for regional security, economic stability, and global illicit trade.

Traditionally, the Dahalo of Madagascar were young men proving their bravery through cattle theft and culturally accepted rite of passage. But over the years, this practice evolved into a violent criminal operation, particularly in Madagascar’s southern “red zones.” Today, Dahalo fighters move in formations reminiscent of guerrilla units, carrying Kalashnikovs and MAS-36 rifles, burning villages, and executing raids with deadly precision.

A similar transformation has occurred across the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) and the broader Sahel. What was once a pastoralist ritual for dowry or status has devolved into rampant cattle rustling, marked by commercial motivations and military-grade violence. Armed groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have co-opted cattle theft as a tool of economic warfare and insurgency financing, altering the dynamics of regional insecurity.

In both regions, the actors are heavily armed and exploit ungoverned spaces for strategic advantage. Madagascar’s Dahalo exploit remote territories with minimal government presence, particularly in the Great South, operating freely in zones that mirror guerrilla warfare conditions.

In the Sahel and Lake Chad region, cattle rustlers and terror groups capitalize on Nigeria’s marshlands of Lake Chad, and the mountainous border regions of Niger and Mali. Here, they evade security forces, engage in cross-border raids, and impose illegal taxes on livestock traders and herders.

A critical yet underreported dimension is the emergence of transnational livestock trafficking networks, often referred to as the “meat mafia.” In both Madagascar and West Africa, stolen cattle are laundered through intermediaries – including corrupt officials, market traders, transporters, and butchers blending seamlessly with legally acquired livestock in regional markets.

In Nigeria, Africa’s largest cattle market, rustled herds are sold openly. Sophisticated tactics like “cattle round-tripping” moving animals across porous borders to obscure their origins have are now common. In Burkina Faso, jihadist groups such as JNIM and Ansarul Islam have even developed “commercial partnerships” with these networks, earning millions in monthly revenues to sustain their insurgencies.

Madagascar mirrors this structure. Government reports have exposed collusion between national leaders, police officers, and judges in facilitating Dahalo operations. Special advisers have described entire “cattle mafias” laundering thousands of heads of zebu (a prized local breed), with links to export markets in China and Arab states.

Another chilling layer to this network is the leather trade. While concrete evidence linking fashion brands to leather sourced from stolen livestock remains elusive, the risk is real. In Nigeria alone, animal skin exports generate more than $800 million annually. With no comprehensive system to trace the origin of hides, it’s highly plausible that stolen cattle contribute to global leather supply chains.

The fashion industry, known for its opaque supply networks, often sources leather through tanneries in high-risk regions. This opens a channel for conflict leather to flow unnoticed into international markets. Inaction or failure to investigate supply origins could render global brands complicit – knowingly or not – in fueling banditry and terror finance.

The terror-crime nexus in the LCB and Sahel is undeniable. Groups like Boko Haram use cattle rustling not just to fund operations but to dominate rural economies. They impose taxes on herders, abduct livestock owners for ransom, and terrorize communities into submission. These tactics serve both economic and psychological warfare, entrenching their control and weakening state legitimacy.

While the Dahalo are less ideologically motivated, their methods mimic insurgent governance: hostage-taking, village destruction, and an ability to operate with impunity. Madagascar’s internal security challenges mirror the complexity of northern Nigeria and the tri-border Sahel.

What Next? Toward a Multisectoral Response

The threat posed by these groups transcends cattle rustling. It reflects broader failures in governance, law enforcement, and border security. Left unchecked, they undermine fragile economies, deepen food insecurity, and blur the lines between criminal enterprise and armed conflict.

Addressing this challenge demands a multisectoral strategy: Strengthen border surveillance and regional intelligence-sharing.Regulate and digitize livestock movement through traceable means (e.g., tagging, blockchain). Crack down on collusion within security forces and public institutions.
Enforce due diligence in the leather and meat industries to prevent laundering of stolen goods.
Provide pastoral communities with economic alternatives and local protection mechanisms.

Conclusion

From the red plains of Madagascar to the dry frontiers of the Sahel, a dark economy thrives on the backs of stolen cattle. Whether driven by profit, ritual, or insurgency, the actors involved share more than just tactics. they exploit the same gaps in governance, the same desperation of vulnerable communities, and the same blind spots in international oversight.

The world may view cattle rustling as a relic of the past, but in reality, it is a sophisticated and deadly enterprise one that demands urgent attention from African states, global industry, and international partners alike.

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

The Dahalo of Madagascar and Cattle Rustlers in the Lake Chad Basin, a Shared Threat Beyond Borders