The number of Islamic State (ISIS) members defecting in Nigeria has increased by more than 200 per cent following a joint military operation by Nigerian and United States forces in May, the commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, has said....
The number of Islamic State (ISIS) members defecting in Nigeria has increased by more than 200 per cent following a joint military operation by Nigerian and United States forces in May, the commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin Anderson, has said.
Anderson disclosed this on Monday on the sidelines of the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos, according to a report by THISDAY.
He attributed the increase to the impact of the operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command globally, as well as subsequent military operations by Nigerian forces.
“The partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces and Nigerian intelligence was exceptional, and that’s what really enabled that partnership to happen and to take out the number two terrorist in the world for ISIS,” Anderson said.
He said the cooperation combined Nigeria’s knowledge of local and regional security dynamics with American intelligence and understanding of international terrorist networks.
“Some of it is intelligence, but also understanding of the terrorist network globally. And so Nigeria brings the regional and local understanding, while we bring the global network understanding, and together that becomes very powerful,” he added.
Anderson said the United States would continue supporting Nigerian security forces through intelligence sharing, specialised capabilities and training.
He noted, however, that military operations alone would not resolve Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorism and kidnapping, stressing the importance of governance and development.
The AFRICOM commander also commended Nigeria’s programme for reintegrating former insurgents into society, saying the growing number of defections and reported reductions in attacks and violence indicated progress.
“How do you take the growing youth population and channel that energy for a positive effort? And to me, that’s what we all need to work on, but it has to be done locally,” he said.
On regional security, Anderson said the United States was seeking to reopen dialogue with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with the aim of strengthening security cooperation.
He also identified terrorist financing, piracy, smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal fishing as major security concerns across the region.
In May, US and Nigerian forces conducted operations in north-eastern Nigeria that killed al-Minuki. AFRICOM announced in June that most US troops deployed for the operation had been withdrawn, while intelligence cooperation with Nigeria would continue.