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Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has called for stronger security cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States to combat terrorism, insurgency and transnational crimes across the region.

Musa made the call on Tuesday during a three-day working visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where he is holding talks aimed at harmonising regional defence strategies and strengthening security cooperation.

According to a statement by his media aide, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister said West Africa’s complex security challenges required an inclusive and coordinated regional response.

He urged the leadership of ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States to find common ground to curb the spread of insurgency across land borders and improve maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.

“There is a need for a unified security alliance between the ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States to defeat terrorism, dismantle cross-border criminal networks, and restore regional stability. ECOWAS and AES leadership should find a common ground to insulate land borders from insurgent spillover and strengthen maritime security along the Gulf of Guinea., ” he was quoted as saying.

Musa who was received at Cotonou International Airport by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan.

Agonkan commended Nigeria for what he described as its leadership role in promoting peace and stability in West Africa, citing the country’s interventions in support of democratic governance in the sub-region.

He also praised the performance of the Nigerian Army contingent that participated in Benin’s National Day parade on August 1, describing Nigeria as an indispensable partner in the fight against transnational crime.

During the visit, Musa met with Nigerian troops stationed at Togbin, where he conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving troop welfare, enhancing operational effectiveness and strengthening the capacity of the armed forces.

The minister also visited the Nigeria House in Cotonou, where he was received by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mopelola Ibrahim.

The ambassador said Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with Benin remained focused on expanding bilateral trade and strengthening joint border surveillance to tackle emerging security threats.

The Alliance of Sahel States comprises Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three military-led countries that withdrew from ECOWAS after disagreements with the regional bloc over sanctions and the timeline for returning to civilian rule.

The three countries formally exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, and have since deepened military, political and economic cooperation under the AES framework.

Despite their political differences, both blocs face common security threats, including terrorism, violent extremism, insurgency, arms trafficking and other cross-border crimes, particularly in the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea.

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The Federal Government has directed vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions across the country to dismiss any student found culpable, after due investigation, of involvement in kidnapping or related criminal activities.

Minister of Education, Dr.Tunji Alausa, issued the directive during a meeting with the Pro-Chancellor, Governing Council and Management of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) in Abuja.

He also ordered heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen internal intelligence systems and deepen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to improve campus safety.

Alausa said the directive followed concerns over reports that some students were allegedly involved in kidnapping operations carried out outside their campuses, stressing that tertiary institutions must not become safe havens for criminal elements.

“If you tolerate bad behaviour for too long, it becomes a culture. Any student found culpable, after due investigation, of planning or participating in the kidnapping of fellow students has no place in our tertiary institutions. Such individuals must be dismissed. Our campuses must never become safe havens for criminal elements,” the minister said.

While noting that Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain largely safe, Alausa said recent isolated incidents involving students outside campuses underscored the need for stronger intelligence gathering and closer collaboration with security agencies.

He disclosed that he recently met with the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), to develop a coordinated strategy aimed at strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative and improving the protection of learners across the country.

The minister also reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no government institution should negotiate with or pay ransom to kidnappers, warning that such actions only embolden criminal groups and undermine efforts to tackle insecurity.

Beyond disciplinary measures, Alausa directed governing councils and managements of tertiary institutions to establish effective internal intelligence mechanisms, maintain close ties with the DSS and other security agencies, and promptly address threats to the safety of students and staff.

He announced that the Federal Government would support security enhancement projects in tertiary institutions through the 2027 intervention programme of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), including perimeter fencing and other critical security infrastructure. Institutions were urged to submit proposals early for consideration.

The minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the Energising Education Programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power to improve electricity supply to tertiary institutions through additional solar generation and battery storage.

Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Lola Akande, commended the Federal Government for its support to the institution but identified student accommodation, electricity supply to the university’s second campus and insecurity as major challenges.

She disclosed that some students of the university were suspected to have been involved in kidnapping activities carried out off campus, adding that the institution strongly opposed the payment of ransom, saying it would only encourage more criminality.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mohammed Isa Kida, also praised the minister’s reforms in the education sector and appealed for the extension of the Energising Education Programme to the institution’s second campus, as well as additional office accommodation and staffing support.

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Bello Abdullahi, elder brother of the abducted Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, has died from gunshot injuries sustained during a bandit attack on the chairman’s residence.

The attack occurred on July 25 in Bungudu town, where armed bandits abducted the local government chairman and two other residents after killing four security personnel attached to him.

Bello, a former treasurer in the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance, was reportedly among residents who rushed to the chairman’s residence to assist during the attack when he was shot.

His death was confirmed on Monday by Jamilu Bungudu, a media aide to Abdulmalik Zubairu, who represents the Bungudu/Maru Federal Constituency.

With Bello’s death, the number of people killed in connection with the attack has risen to five.

The local government chairman, Nura Abdullahi, and the two other abducted residents remain in captivity as of the time of filing this report.

The kidnapped victims were identified as Halliru Soja, a staff member of the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, and Hussaini Naira, a Point-of-Sale operator.

The four security personnel killed during the attack were identified as Inspector Basiru Lawal, Police Constable Hamza Muhammad and two vigilantes, Nura ADC and Ibrahim Baare.

Bungudu Local Government Area, located about 21 kilometres from Gusau, has experienced repeated attacks by armed bandits in recent years.

In April, gunmen reportedly riding more than 50 motorcycles attacked Yarkatsinan Laka village, killing two police officers, two health workers and a patient after raiding a security outpost and a clinic.

Other rural communities in the area, including Karakkai and Gwargwabe, have also suffered repeated attacks, with homes reportedly destroyed, residents killed and food storage facilities destroyed.

The continued violence has further worsened the humanitarian situation in communities across the local government area.