The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on its member countries to enhance cooperation in intelligence sharing and border security to tackle the growing threat of terrorism in the region.
This comes in the wake of a deadly attack on Wednesday in Northern Benin’s Point Trible area, where unidentified armed individuals killed dozens of people, including soldiers.
In a statement released on Sunday, ECOWAS condemned the attacks, describing them as heinous, and reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating terrorism through its Counterterrorism Plan of Action.
“ECOWAS remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicate terrorism in West Africa, including through the ongoing operationalisation of the Counterterrorism Plan of Action,” the statement read.
The regional body expressed solidarity with the government and people of Benin, extending condolences to the families of the victims, including soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty. It also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack.
“ECOWAS calls on all member states to intensify their cooperation in intelligence sharing and border security. We express our full solidarity with the government and people of Benin and reiterate our determination to support member states in ensuring the safety and security of Community citizens,” the statement added.
The attack highlights the increasing need for member nations to work together to safeguard the region’s borders against terrorist threats, with ECOWAS pledging continued support for all efforts to protect citizens and maintain regional stability.
