ECOWAS Raises Alarm Over Expanding Terror Threat, Moves To Deploy 5,000 Troops Across West Africa

By Diafa Doubra, Warri 

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has warned that terrorist groups are rapidly expanding their operations across the region, with attacks now spreading beyond the Sahel into coastal states. In a new security assessment, the bloc revealed that more than 450 terror incidents have been recorded in 2025 alone, resulting in over 1,900 deaths. Officials say the growing influence of jihadist networks, coupled with porous borders and political instability, has created an urgent need for coordinated regional action.

In response, ECOWAS announced plans to deploy a 5,000-member multinational counterterrorism force to curb the escalating violence. The mission will focus on protecting vulnerable border communities, improving intelligence sharing, and dismantling insurgent strongholds. The bloc emphasized that failure to act now could push West Africa into a deeper security crisis, with devastating effects on civilian populations and regional economic stability.