Nigeria has called for renewed regional unity in combating terrorism, urging Niger to rejoin the Multinational Joint Task Force after its withdrawal created security vulnerabilities along the 1,500-kilometre border shared by the two countries. Defence Minister Christopher Musa made the appeal during an interview with TRT World in Turkey, underscoring the need for cross-border collaboration among West African nations. He stressed that terrorist groups operate without regard for national boundaries, making coordinated military efforts essential. "We are brothers and sisters. We must not allow differences to divide us, especially when facing a common enemy that seeks to destroy lives and communities," Musa said. He highlighted that despite political shifts in the region, Nigeria continues to engage in bilateral military training and cooperation with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Musa emphasized that sustained joint operations with countries including Cameroon and Chad are vital to restricting terrorist movements across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. He warned that disunity weakens regional defences and allows extremist elements to exploit gaps in surveillance and response. The minister expressed hope that diplomatic and security engagement would restore full collaboration within the task force and strengthen the fight against insurgency.
A country cannot secure a 1,500-kilometre border alone, yet Nigeria is being forced to do so as Niger remains outside the Multinational Joint Task Force. The Defence Minister's appeal exposes a growing rift between regional solidarity and political divergence, where security cooperation is now contingent on diplomatic alignment. If unity against terrorism depends on political stability, then the Sahel's fight may already be losing ground.
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