By Marcus Ikechukwu
While the Russia/Ukraine Conflict rages, President Muhammadu Buhari has bemoaned its impact in the Sahel region of West Africa, insisting that it is compounding the Boko Haram crisis, especially in the Lake Chad Basin region.
The President stated this in his opening address at the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), held at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to President Buhari, who doubled as Chairman of the Summit, illicit weapons and fighters are already infiltrating the region from Russia and Ukraine, a trend that has been noticed to have led to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Buhari raised the alarm that the situation calls for a reawakening of the border security of the impacted countries of the region.
The President also noted that though a lot had been done to decimate the strength of the Boko Haram terror group and other violent extremist groups in the region, terrorist threats persist.
“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,” he said.
“The next phase of the operation will take cognizance of lessons learnt from previous exercises and effectively consolidate 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 be stated that despite the successes recorded by the gallant troops of the MNJTF and the various ongoing national operations in the region, terrorist threats still lurk 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 the Lake Chad Region. A substantial proportion of the arms and ammunition 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.”
