- The Federal Government has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) to crack down on illicit financial flows, identifying them as the primary driver enabling terrorist groups to recruit youths and acquire advanced weaponry across the continent.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned that insurgent groups are increasingly deploying commercial technologies like drones and digital platforms, while financing operations through illegal mining and kidnapping for ransom.
- Nigeria outlined its dual approach to counter-terrorism, combining military pressure with non-kinetic measures such as youth empowerment, deradicalization, community resilience, and intelligence sharing via the Multinational Joint Task Force.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) to intensify continental efforts against illicit financial flows, describing unhindered funding mechanisms as a major catalyst for terrorism and violent extremism in Africa.
Eko Hot Blog reports that speaking during the 1354th virtual ministerial meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, emphasized that curbing illicit funds is essential to defeating insurgent networks operating on the continent.
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The Foreign Minister raised concerns over the evolving tactics of terrorist networks, pointing out that non-state actors are leveraging modern commercial technologies, including drones and digital tools, to circumvent conventional security measures.
She added that insurgents sustain their operations by exploiting unregulated sectors, particularly illicit mining and kidnapping for ransom.
Addressing Nigeria’s domestic security interventions, Odumegwu-Ojukwu detailed that the country has deployed a comprehensive counter-terrorism framework integrating military operations with non-kinetic initiatives.
She noted that sustained operations have significantly degraded the operational capabilities of Boko Haram and ISWAP while government authority continues to be restored across affected communities.
She highlighted ongoing investments in youth education, local intelligence sharing, early warning systems, and the rehabilitation of ex-combatants as key drivers for long-term regional stability.
The minister concluded by urging international partners to maintain a zero-tolerance policy on terrorism by restricting non-state actors’ access to arms, ammunition, and dual-use technology, while cautioning against global narratives that unfairly target law-abiding African citizens at international borders.
