Nigeria strengthens counter-terrorism ties with neighbouring Benin and Niger, says Defence Minister

Nigeria is bolstering its military ties with neighboring Benin and Niger to counter the growing threat of Sahel-based jihadists in its northwest region, according to the country's defence minister, who spoke with AFP on Thursday.

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The minister's comments come as Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, continues to grapple with a longstanding insurgency that has evolved in recent years, with armed groups from the wider region increasingly involved in the conflict since 2009.

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The United States has conducted strikes against the Islamic State Sahel Province in northwest Nigeria, while analysts also express concern about the presence of the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known as JNIM.

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Retired general Christopher Musa revealed that Nigeria is establishing a new military sector to cover the borders with Benin and Niger, stating "We're opening another sector to cover the border between Nigeria, Benin Republic and Niger".

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This tri-country collaboration aims to prevent JNIM from exploiting the border region, with Musa noting "From Burkina Faso, JNIM is trying to take advantage of coming through Benin Republic into Nigeria".

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The plan is currently a "work in progress", according to Musa, who did not provide a specific timeline for its implementation, but emphasized the need for cooperation to address the regional security challenges.

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Musa also announced plans to visit Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in the coming months, all of which are governed by military rulers that have broken away from the regional ECOWAS bloc to form the Alliance of Sahel States.

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Despite the political complexities, Musa highlighted that "Politically, there is always that issue, but militarily, we have been able to go beyond that", citing the example of Niger, where authorities recognize the importance of cooperation to prevent security gaps.

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Musa emphasized the need for regional cooperation to defeat the insurgencies, stating "We need to close ranks so that we can defeat these enemies".

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The increased collaboration with Benin comes as videos have surfaced online showing Beninese troops operating within Nigerian territory, which Musa said was done with long-established permission from Nigerian authorities.

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Security sources have previously revealed that the Nigerian military has also worked with anti-jihadist militias from Benin on Nigerian territory, highlighting the growing security cooperation between the two nations.

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Nigeria's conflict, long concentrated in the northeast, appears to be shifting, with a rare school kidnapping in the southwest in May blamed on jihadists, prompting concerns about the spread of violence to other regions.

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According to Musa, "We are trying to stop them from getting deep into the south", noting that jihadist activity often overlaps with unguarded forest reserves and illegal mining operations, which provide a leverage for the insurgents.

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Musa also highlighted the link between illegal mining and jihadist activity, stating "With illegal mining, if you notice, most of the areas where they are putting much pressure, there are mineral resources around that area, so they use that to leverage and to build up".

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With a presidential election looming in January, there are concerns that some voters, particularly in the conflict-affected northeast, may not be able to cast their ballots, a possibility that Musa acknowledged, saying "We know that's a possibility".

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However, Musa expressed determination to ensure that the election can proceed safely, stating "What we're trying to do is to ensure that that doesn't happen", and noting that "Nigerians are willing to vote as long as the locations are safe".