From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Ongoing confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, together with other violent incidents in the Sahel region of West Africa, has made the Boko Haram terrorist activity in the Lake Chad Basin region even worse, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

He made the disclosure in his opening address at the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, held at the State House Conference Center of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

Ukrainian military’s Grad multiple rocket launcher fires rockets at Russian positions in the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/LIBKOS)

Buhari, who is also the summit’s chairman, asserted that fighters and weapons are already entering the region via Russia and Ukraine, escalating the spread of small arms and light weapons. He said this situation necessitates a reawakening of border security in the region’s member states.

He also pointed out that despite significant efforts to weaken Boko Haram and other violent extremist organizations in the area, terrorist threats continue.

“I am glad to inform my dear brothers that in keeping with that decision, the MNJTF has since then, successfully conducted three major operations: Ops‘YANCIN TAFKI (I&II) and Ops Lake Sanity I, with, the fourth one, Ops Lake Sanity II, being planned. The next phase of the operation will take cognizance of lessons learnt from previous exercises and effectively consolidating the gains attained by preceding Ops.

“I am glad to note that during the execution of Ops Lake Sanity I, regrouping terrorists in the Lake Chad Islands were effectively decimated. 

“It must however be stated that despite the successes recorded by the gallant troops of the MNJTF and the various ongoing national operations in the region, the terrorist threats still lurks in the region.

“Regrettably, the situation in the Sahel and the raging war in Ukraine serve as major sources of weapons and fighters that bolster the ranks of the terrorists in Lake Chad Region. A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunitions procured to execute the war in Libya, continues to find its way to the Lake Chad Region and other parts of the Sahel.

“Weapons being used for the war in Ukraine and Russia are equally beginning to filter to the region.

“This illegal movement of arms into the region has heightened the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which continues to threaten our collective peace and security in the region. There is therefore, the urgent need for expedited collaborative actions by our border control agencies and other security services to stop the circulation of all illegal weapons in the region”, he said.

President Buhari stressed that Government presence must be positively felt in the area to restore the confidence of citizens in the ability of the State to protect them and provide basic infrastructure for all.

He said: “It is in view of the foregoing, that the implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram affected Areas of the region must gain further traction without any delay.

“I am glad to note the development, costing and validation of the territorial action plans for the eight Boko Haram most affected territories of the region.

“These action plans which are the basic building blocks for the implementation of the strategy for the developmental needs of the people of the area. While we commend these initiatives, we must immediately commence efforts at their operationalization.”

He emphasized further that the region around Lake Chad is indeed dealing with a complicated security scenario that is highly dynamic, continuously changing, and increasingly influenced by the effects of climate change and other causes, including, tragically, some external ones. Due to these reasons, he said “it is essential that we routinely evaluate the development and anti-terrorism policies in place in the area.