CYRIL MBAH, Abuja
The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has warned that more than 80 percent of global operations linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are now concentrated in West Africa and the Sahel, describing the region as the new epicentre of global terrorism.
In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat in Abuja, PeacePro said the finding was based on a comparative analysis of global incident data.
The organisation said it drew on open-source intelligence, regional security reports, and trend assessments of ISIS-linked activities across the Middle East, especially in Nigeria, Central Africa, and the Sahel.
PeacePro explained that the 80 percent estimate came from tracking the frequency, scale, and attribution of attacks linked to ISIS and its affiliates in recent months.
“The methodology aggregated reported incidents, compared regional distributions, and evaluated operational intensity, including incidents that were underreported.”
The group noted a sharp decline in activities in ISIS traditional strongholds such as Iraq and Syria. At the same time, it observed a sustained surge in attacks across West Africa, particularly within the Lake Chad Basin and the broader Sahel corridor.
According to Hamzat, ISIS-affiliated groups operating under regional franchises now account for the majority of recorded attacks, fatalities, territorial incursions, and coordinated operations linked to the global network.
He added that this trend also explained the rapid rise of some Nigeria-based fighters within ISIS-linked command structures.
PeacePro stated that the scale, coordination, and persistence of attacks across Nigeria and neighbouring countries signal a dangerous expansion of extremist networks.
It attributed this to adaptive strategies, local recruitment, and possible external support systems.
The organisation warned that the concentration of such a significant share of ISIS-linked operations in West Africa reflects a strategic shift in global terrorism dynamics. It said this requires an urgent recalibration of international counter-terrorism priorities.
PeacePro called on the Federal Government to take the lead in mobilising a coordinated global response and it urged Nigeria to rally international partners, strengthen intelligence-sharing frameworks, and drive a unified offensive against ISIS-affiliated groups operating in the region.
The group emphasised that Nigeria, as a frontline state, is uniquely positioned to galvanise regional and global action. It cited the need to strengthen multilateral security cooperation, deploy advanced counter-terrorism technologies, and disrupt transnational financing and logistical networks.
PeacePro warned that failure to act decisively could allow terrorist groups to further entrench their presence, expand territorial control, and project instability beyond West Africa.
It stressed that all counter-terrorism measures should remain intelligence-driven, evidence-based, and consistent with international law and human rights standards.
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