Niger coup: ISIS, ISWAP terrorists may attack Lagos, Sokoto – Tinubu warned

An All Progressives Congress (APC) member, Femi Fani-Kayode, has raised an alarm about potential terrorist threats to Nigerian border states, particularly highlighting the vulnerability of Sokoto and Lagos States.

Fani-Kayode stated that these threats could emerge if Niger Republic and its allies allow corridors for terrorist groups like ISIS and ISWAP to access neighboring countries.

In a series of tweets, Fani-Kayode voiced his concerns about the possibility of extremist elements such as ISIS, AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) infiltrating Benin and Togo, which are considered to be the weaker links within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He argued that if such corridors were established, it would leave Nigeria’s western borders, spanning from Sokoto to Lagos, exposed to potential terrorist attacks.

“If Niger Republic and her allies deliberately open a corridor for the elements of ISIS, AQIM, ISWAP etc to move into Benin and Togo, ECOWAS’ weakest link, then the whole of Nigeria’s western borders, from Sokoto to Lagos, would be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

“Already some of the elements have penetrated into Niger State, around Borgu and Shiriro, very close to Benin Republic and some states in the South West of Nigeria.”