The Jami’iyyatu Ansarideen Attijaniyya has unveiled the first west African Islamic Conference on Security and Governance with the theme ” The role of Islamic Organizations in Countering Terrorism and violent Extremism in west Africa and Sahel”
The National Secretary,Jam’iyyatu Ansarideen Attijaniyya, Sayiddi (Dr) Muhammad Alqasim Yahaya, made this known in a press Conference held at NIAS House Gwarimpa Abuja, where he frowned at ECOWAS leaders non-utilization of religious and Faith based organizations influence on their members in tackling terrorism.
According to him, religious and Faith based leaders have significant role to play in mentoring members to disist from kidnapping, banditry and other terrorism related vise’s.
(Dr) Alqasim Yahaya said the west African region is facing severe security crises, with the rise in insecurity statistics and terrorism cases within West Africa and Sahel region.
“The Sahel accounts for 51% of global terrorism-related deaths, with countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger being the most affected”
“In March 2025, West Africa recorded 899 security incidents, a 6.4% increase from February, resulting in significant surge in fatalities”
“Over 5 million people have been forcibly displaced, and another 33 million needs humanitarian support, approximately 12 million illegal weapons are circulating in West Africa, Fueling violence and instability”
The Jami’iyyatu Ansarideen Attijaniyya National Secretary further enumerated the key factors contributing to crisis, to include Governance Failure, poverty and unemployment, porous borders,the Almajiri and out-of-school children in west Africa and the Sahel.
” We have the statistics of these Almajiri children, Nigeria alone accounts for 20% of the total out of school children, approximately Nigeria has18.3 out of school children, so these almajiri children faces poverty, child labor, exploitation,and vulnerability to radicalization and recruitment into extremist groups”
“Hence, the need for this conference aimed at bringing together esteemed Islamic scholars, government officials, international organization representatives, security and education experts, child right activist, Traditional leaders, and business leaders to discuss critical issues affecting the region”
The West African Islamic conference on security and Governance is expected to give comprehensive strategies with recommendations to address insecurity, educational challenges and social vise’s in West Africa, enhance De-radicalization efforts, promote interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence within the region, establish a regional legislation for religion regulation, such as harmful religious practices, compromise peace, security and stability of West Africa and Sahel region.
(Dr) Alqasim Yahaya who is also the Chairman Organizing Committee of the West Africa Islamic conference on security and Governance said the conference is scheduled to take place from November 4th to 6th, 2025 at the ECOWAS parliament in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.
