General Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, emphasized the importance of collaboration between Nigeria and Sahelian countries to combat terrorism. He noted that the Sahel region's security is deeply connected to Nigeria's, and vice versa.
The Sahel region, which spans 5,000 km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, is home to over 150 million people across ten countries. This region faces numerous challenges:l.
General Musa stated this on Thursday when he received a delegation of the Sahelian Think Tank (Alliance De Sahel) from Burkina Faso,Mali and Niger in Abuja.
The delegation led by Hon. Aliyu Gebi in Nigeria to learn from Nigeria how to tackle the menace of terrorism and the success of operation Safe Corridor.
He said contrary to beliefs, the militaries of the region were working together and declared his intention to visit Mali and Burkina Faso.
General Musa emphasized that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is not interested in fighting in country in the Sahel despite their withdrawal from ECOWAS and heightens political tension.
"This meeting came at a very good time. Now that so many things are happening in Africa, but it shows the unity of purpose. Their presence here from the Sahelian countries shows that we're still united, despite the challenges.
"And for all Africans, we must unite. The enemies we're dealing with are enemies that don't mean us well, especially in the Sahelian region. They have no respect for life, no respect for humanity, no respect for boundaries. And it is critical that we must work together to fight and defeat them.
"And I'm happy that we have our brothers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and other countries here to come and see what we're doing with our disarmament program, with Operation Safe Corridor. And I'm glad that they're going through by discussing in details, and we're we understand and believe that things will only get better for us as Africans," he said
He restated that the kinetic and the non-kinetic must go hand in hand,adding that the kinetic accounts for only 30% of the solution.
"The non-kinetic is basic. We must be able to have good governance within our countries, fairness, justice, equity. With that, our citizens will feel safe, will feel wanted, will have a sense of belonging. And it's only then that we can put hands together and work to ensure that we defeat all arms of criminality within our region.
" Last year, I had the privilege of visiting the Niger Republic, and I met with the chief of defense there.
We were warmly received. Now we want to extend same to Burkina Faso, to Mali, all to show unity, that we need each other for us to succeed.
He reiterated that citizens of the region share a common culture"We are one and the same it's only during the division of the countries boundaries were set but if you look at our attitude, culture and behavior we are the same".
"Over the time, Nigeria is one peaceful country and mean we'll for our neighbors. Even attempt has been made to make it look like we are enemies. We will never be enemies. This is a clear example to show people for us to sit down here shows we are brothers and sisters.
He continued "Our brothers from Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, we are one family. Don't allow anyone to tell you anything otherwise. Since independence Nigeria has been a country that if there is any problem in any African countries we play our part to assist.
When there was issues in South Africa, we brought them to come and stay here until peace returned, Charles Taylor was in Nigeria when there was crisis in Libera. As we speak former president of Sierra Leone is in Nigeria . It has always been a peaceful country and we want to remain like that. We are one people and one family. I visited Niger last year and I was warmly received. I am looking forward to Mali and Bukinfaso too. We need to stay together,".
He advised the Sahelian Countries to block terrorists access to mining sites and trace their foreign sponsors.
"Lastly, the issue of illegal mining. This is where they are getting a lot of funds from . We must stop them from having access to funds . Working with international organizations and stop foreign partners that wants to support them,"
The team lead Hon. Aliyu Gebi reiterated that the region is safer and stronger working together .
According to him, what happens in Mali,Niger and Burkina Faso resonates in Nigeria. He said commended the Nigerian military for winning the war against insurgents but stressed the need to harmonise strategies towards winning peace.
He noted that the team was in Nigeria to study how to connect kinetic and non-kinetic operations to win peace.