ECOWAS has appealed to the United Nations and global partners, urging deeper collaboration and enhanced support for member states confronting a surge in terrorist attacks across West Africa.
Recently, several churches in Nigeria were attacked, resulting in the deaths of Christian worshippers, leading to calls for tighter security, with US President Donald Trump weighing in on the latest development.
“ECOWAS calls on the United Nations and all partners to support Member States in their fight against these groups and to treat as false any claims that these terrorist groups target one group or that there is a genocide of one religious group in the region,” the regional bloc said in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 4.
“ECOWAS calls on the whole world to stand by the countries in the region in their fight against terrorism that targets all communities,” the release added.
ECOWAS underscored the growing scale of extremist violence, noting that civilians of all faiths and backgrounds have become indiscriminate targets in an expanding wave of insecurity.
“Perpetrators of this violence target innocent civilians of all religious denominations, including Muslims, Christians, and adherents to other religions.”
The organisation stressed that terror groups recognise no boundary of religion, ethnicity, age or gender, a reality confirmed by years of independent reporting and on-the-ground evidence.
In response to these incidents, Mr Trump stated on Saturday that he had instructed the Pentagon to commence planning for potential military action in Nigeria.
He intensified his claims that the Nigerian government is failing to curb the persecution of Christians in the West African nation.
Below is the statement issued on Tuesday;
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