Insurgents long active in Africa’s Sahel region have settled in northwestern Nigeria after crossing from Benin, a report revealed Wednesday.
This marks a new trend of militants moving to wealthier West African coastal nations.
Extremists linked to al Qaeda have recently crossed from Benin’s troubled north into Nigeria’s Kainji Lake National Park.
This park, one of Nigeria’s largest, has seen increasing access by various armed groups, says the Clingendael Institute report.
Local residents near the park reported it closed for over a year due to security threats from armed groups attacking nearby villages and roads.
“It used to be a tourism center, but now it’s dangerous,” said John Yerima from New Bussa town.
The situation at the 5,300-square-kilometer park and along the Benin border is worsening, noted report co-author Kars de Bruijne.
This reflects a growing link between Nigeria’s local extremists and Sahel-based al Qaeda militants.
Their presence enables extremists to claim broader success in Nigeria and Benin, already plagued by deadly attacks.
The Sahel’s security crisis worsens amid regional military coups and shifting alliances from France and the U.S. to Russia.
