By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
Nigeria and its partners are intensifying efforts to address the growing threat posed by terrorists’ use of new and emerging technologies, even as experts warn of an alarming surge in insurgent groups across Africa.
At the launch of the second CT TECH+ National Workshop on “Assessing Threats and Developing Counter-Terrorism Responses” held in Abuja on Monday, National Coordinator of Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General A.G. Laka, underscored the urgency of developing strong policy and operational responses to evolving terrorist tactics.
Speaking on behalf of National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Laka warned: “As terrorists increasingly exploit digital platforms, encryption, unmanned systems, and Artificial Intelligence, our ability to anticipate, assess, and mitigate these threats becomes a national imperative”.
The workshop, organized in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, INTERPOL, and the European Union, is part of a wider two-year CT TECH+ initiative designed to strengthen states’ resilience against terrorist use of advanced technologies. Participants include policymakers, security agencies, regulators, subject matter experts, and criminal justice actors.
Laka noted that the programme builds on the success of the first national session held in July, which focused on law enforcement capabilities in countering terrorism with technology. This second edition, he explained, aims to produce actionable recommendations that will feed directly into Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy.
The significance of the discussions in Abuja was reinforced by the reality confronting Africa. At the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit 2025, also held in Abuja on Monday, Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs and ex-UN Permanent Representative, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, revealed that more than 1,000 insurgent groups are currently operating across Africa.
“We have to first secure our countries before we can secure our regions and then the continent. Securing Nigeria has placed Nigeria at the forefront of securing the region and continent. There are over 1,000 insurgency groups operating in Africa,” Gambari declared in his goodwill message at the summit themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration”.
The scale of insecurity underscores why initiatives such as CT TECH+ are critical. Terrorists across the continent are increasingly weaponizing Artificial Intelligence, encrypted communication, and unmanned systems for recruitment, financing, radicalization, and attacks.
Zissimos Vergos, Charge d’Affairs of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, stressed the importance of collective global action: “What we are experiencing around the world right now is an affront to global security, regional security, national security, local security, to the economy, to the foundations of democracy, to the foundation of human rights, fundamental rights, the rule of law, the peaceful coexistence”.
Similarly, Kimairis Toogood, representing the United Nations, warned that terrorists’ exploitation of technology is outpacing states’ response capacities. “The threats are evolving faster than our ability to respond, presenting serious challenges to law enforcement and national security agencies globally,” she cautioned, reaffirming the UN’s commitment to supporting Nigeria and Africa with rights-based, sustainable counterterrorism frameworks.
The regional dimension was further highlighted by ECOWAS President Omar Alieu Touray, represented by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, who disclosed that the Sahel region accounted for 51 per cent of terrorism-related deaths in 2024, and called on the UN to fund at least 75 per cent of Africa-led operations.
In his welcome remarks, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, emphasized the need for Africa to take ownership of its security: “The enemy is within, hence, we must be the architect of our defence and security”.
With terrorism spreading across the continent and digital tools increasingly exploited by extremist groups, experts agree that the Abuja initiatives: the CT TECH+ workshop and the Defence Chiefs’ summit, reflect Africa’s resolve to forge stronger partnerships, build indigenous capabilities, and develop innovative strategies to safeguard peace and stability.
