A call was made by the Chiefs of Defence Staff in West Africa on Friday for the return of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
During a visit to the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, NCTC, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, who also serves as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Defence Chiefs, emphasized the importance of these countries rejoining the regional bloc to combat the insecurity, particularly insurgency, that is plaguing the region.
Gen Musa highlighted the ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of the three countries and stressed the collective effort required to address the security challenges in West Africa.
He underscored the need for collaboration among nations to achieve progress in enhancing security, stating that individual countries cannot tackle the threats alone.
Expressing concern about the potential repercussions if the three countries remain outside the fold, Gen Musa emphasized the interconnectedness of security in the region and the importance of unity among West African nations.
He acknowledged the critical role played by the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations.