According to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), terrorists have claimed the lives of 14,500 people in West Africa over the course of the past 4.5 years.
5.5 million people have reportedly been displaced by the region’s insecurity, according to outgoing ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Brou.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja as the new management of the Commission, headed by President Omar Touray, took over, was Brou, who will take over as governor of the West African Bank.
“First of all, the deterioration of the security situation has caused havoc not only in the Sahel area, affecting Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the North-East of Nigeria, but it soon expanded to the coastal zone, hitting Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo,” he said.
Nearly 14,500 people have died as a result of terrorist attacks and bandit hordes in these countries in the past four and a half years, endangering rural residents’ safety and forcing them to look for refuge outside of their homes.
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In our region, there are now about 5.5 million people who are internally displaced and in need of humanitarian aid.
He claimed that the commission has made efforts to assist both those who have experienced natural disasters and many of them.
He claims that measures have been taken in accordance with a regional action plan to combat terrorism in the area.
According to Brou, in order for the plan to produce the desired results, member states must provide consistent commitment and financial support.
“A regional action plan has been developed and is currently being put into practise to combat terrorism in West Africa. To achieve the desired results over the long-term, it will require ongoing commitment, including financial support from member states, the speaker said.
