The National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) has said that terrorism remains the greatest threat to human existence.
Speaking at the ongoing Second United Nations High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of members states, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Moguno said fallout of activities associated with terrorists have collectively heightened insecurity in the greater part of Africa with serious economic, social and political implications for its people.
According to the NSA, terrorism has continued to manifest itself as a vicious and relentless global threat, recognising no border, nationality and all religions.
He said;
“I can say with total conviction that apart from pandemics, natural disasters and the climate itself, today, the greatest threat to the existence of human race is the global scourge of terrorism.
“The fallout of activities associated with terrorists have collectively heightened insecurity in the greater part of Africa with serious economic, social and political implications for its people.
“In the North Eastern part of Nigeria, the activities of Boko Haram terrorists and the so called the Islamic State West Africa Province with known affiliation to other international terror networks such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda, have continued to undermine the security and livelihood of the people.
“They are at the same time overlapping into neighbouring countries of the Lake Chad Basin.
“It was disclosed that over a million persons have been internally displaced in the communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, while more than seven million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance in North Eastern Nigeria.”
The NSA who also pointed out that terror groups have leveraged social media to propagate their ideologies, recruit vulnerable youths, radicalise them and instill fear in the target communities, as well as deflate the morale of defence and security forces, noted that these terrorists tend to portray the government as incapable of guaranteeing the protection and well-being of the population.
He concluded by saying that the Nigerian government has continued to confront these challenges by establishing new structures and national institutions and empowering them, and has also improved the coordination of humanitarian support for Non-Government Organisations by creating the Ministry of Humanitarians Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
