By The Federal Government has identified three religious groups as responsible for the growing spate of terrorism in Nigeria and countries in the Sahel region.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno made the revelation while speaking at the 14th workshop of the League of Ulamas, Preachers and Imams of Sahel Countries, on Tuesday.
The groups named by the NSA include Jama’at Nasr al-Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), Islamic and Muslim Support Group (IMSG) and Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS).
Monguno disclosed that the ISGS is primarily responsible for terrorism and violent activities by militant Islamist groups in the Sahel since 2016, adding that the activities of these three groups have continued to pose a threat to the stability of the region.
He said, “It is bolstered by activities of groups such as Jama’at Nasr al-Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), the Islamic and Muslim Support Group (GSIM) and ISGS which have continued to pose an imminent threat to the stability of the region.”
“In Nigeria, Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) dominate terrorist activities, especially in the north-eastern part of the country.
“The situation in the Sahel has never been grimmer, extremist violence continues to spread; the number of internally displaced persons (IDPS) is growing; and food insecurity is affecting more people than ever before.
“Thus, it is assessed that while the groups maintain the long-term strategic goal of creating a caliphate, the efforts of Lake Chad Basin Commission countries will continue to frustrate that goal.
“In that regard, it is imperative that ulamas, preachers, and community leaders in your localities key in to support efforts of our security forces, in order to end this menace.”
