Large groups linked to the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) are being moved toward Lake Chad and the northwestern borders of Nigeria via Niger. This development was reported by a major Nigerian daily, Daily Confidence, based on sources cited by the country’s military intelligence apparatus.
According to these reports, militants are pushing out of remote Sahel bases toward the Nigerian frontier. The move appears to be a response to anticipated operations by ECOWAS troops and the fear of Nigerien military action. As a precautionary measure, insurgent factions are establishing new outposts along the shores of Lake Chad. There have already been attacks on residents in several border states, underscoring the mounting threat.
The article notes that the security situation in Nigeria’s northwest has worsened since rebels who gained power in neighboring Niger pulled back from multinational counter-terrorism formations. Other Nigerian security sources corroborate this shift, linking the change to broader regional dynamics and the ongoing struggle against violent extremism.
Meanwhile, the African Union Peace and Security Council has declined to authorize the use of force against Nigerien rebels, a move that has drawn scrutiny from many observers. Analysts warn that foreign intervention could trigger a broader destabilization across the Sahel if the crisis deepens.
The former leader of these rebel groups has warned that any external intervention could unleash massacre and chaos, highlighting the high stakes involved in decisions about regional security and sovereignty.