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The Chiefs of Defence Staff in West Africa have called for the return of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to the regional bloc.
Recall that the three military-led West African nations announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, accusing the organisation of becoming a threat to its member states.
But addressing the situation, the regional Defence Chiefs stated that their return was crucial to overcoming the insecurity plaguing the region, particularly insurgency.
The Chairman of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff and the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa spoke while on a courtesy visit to the National Coordinator of the Counter-terrorism Centre, Major General Adamu Laka in Abuja.
Musa noted that efforts were underway to bring back the three countries.
He said, “We feel without security, there can’t be progress. And the threats we are facing, especially on insurgency, are high, and we think it’s very, very important that we need to partner together to achieve success. No country can do it alone, and that’s why it’s important.
“We know we have three countries that have decided to step aside. We are making all efforts to ensure that they come back to the fold because we know even they, on their own, cannot withstand this.
“It is important for us as West Africans to continue to work together. I appreciate the National Coordinator for doing a wonderful job. He just came in in April and there’s so much that has taken place, and that is something we are very proud of.”
Musa, who said the insurgency in the region was spreading wide and fast, urged the Defence Chiefs to brace up to nip the situation in the bud.
He said, “Insurgency is on the increase and spreading very, very wide and very fast. So we must do everything possible to ensure that we nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand. So on behalf of all of us, we are happy to be here.
“We are sure that we’re going to work together to ensure that there is total peace in our region. I had the privilege of being the theatre commander in the Northeast when this horrendous exercise started, and it started like a joke.
In his remarks, Laka said there was a need for cooperation among the West African countries to defeat terrorism.
Laka said,” We hope to partner with our brothers in the West African sub-region and the Sahel. They say if your brother’s house is on fire, it can also reach yours.
“So we need to learn from one another. We don’t plan to make this place the only place. We plan to partner with Abidjan."
