By Samson Uche, Abuja

The United Nations has raised fresh concerns over the growing sophistication of terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria and across the Sahel, warning that insurgents are increasingly leveraging drones, advanced communication technologies, and cryptocurrencies to strengthen their operations, evade security surveillance, and expand their influence across borders.

The warning was delivered to the United Nations Security Council by Leonardo Simão, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), during a briefing on the security, political, and humanitarian situation in the region.

Simão presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on developments in West Africa and the Sahel, covering the period from November 29, 2025, to June 30, 2026, as the Security Council reviewed the region’s escalating security challenges.

The briefing also followed the Security Council’s decision to extend the mandate of UNOWAS until January 31, 2029, underscoring the international community’s continued concern over instability across the region.

According to the report, terrorist groups have become increasingly adaptive and technologically advanced, employing drones, encrypted communication systems, and digital financial platforms, including cryptocurrencies, to coordinate attacks, move resources, and sustain their operations across national boundaries.

The UN warned that these evolving tactics are making extremist groups more difficult to track, disrupt, and contain, while enhancing their operational reach and resilience.

The report identified northern Nigeria and the central Sahel as among the regions most severely affected by terrorist violence, noting that extremist activities are becoming increasingly intertwined with transnational organized crime networks.

According to the UN, terrorist organizations are exploiting criminal enterprises to consolidate territorial control, strengthen economic influence, and undermine public confidence in state institutions and governance structures.

The organization further noted that the convergence of terrorism and organized crime is aggravating insecurity, weakening social cohesion, and posing a significant threat to peace and stability across affected countries.

Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso were specifically highlighted as nations continuing to experience persistent terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and high levels of civilian casualties.

The humanitarian consequences of the violence remain severe. The UN reported that approximately 6.8 million people have been displaced across the region, while an additional 1.28 million people are currently living as refugees or asylum seekers.

Women, children, and young people continue to bear the heaviest burden of the crisis, with insecurity and funding shortages limiting humanitarian access to many vulnerable communities.

Despite the worsening security landscape, the United Nations acknowledged signs of progress in regional cooperation aimed at addressing common challenges.

Among the developments highlighted was the reopening of the Kamba border crossing between Nigeria and Niger, a move regarded as a positive step toward restoring cross-border trade, movement, and diplomatic engagement.

The UN also commended the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission for continued progress in implementing the 2002 International Court of Justice judgment on the land and maritime boundary between both countries.

According to the organization, such initiatives demonstrate the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, and regional collaboration in promoting stability and resolving longstanding disputes.

The report stressed that military action alone would not be sufficient to defeat terrorism and violent extremism across the region.

Instead, it urged governments to address the underlying socio-economic factors that fuel radicalization, including poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and vulnerability among young people.

The United Nations emphasized that efforts to reduce poverty and improve economic opportunities must remain central to broader counterterrorism strategies, noting that sustainable development and security are closely linked.

The report further disclosed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has renewed efforts to operationalize its standby force as part of regional security initiatives. However, limited financial resources continue to hamper the implementation of the plan.

As terrorist groups continue to evolve and exploit emerging technologies, the UN warned that stronger regional cooperation, sustained economic development, effective governance, and coordinated security responses will be essential to countering the growing threat across northern Nigeria, West Africa, and the Sahel.