The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu has said that terrorist groups are exploiting porous borders local grievances illicit financial networks digital platforms misinformation and online radicalisation to expand their operations across Africa.

Ribadu stated this on Monday at the headquarters of the National Counter Terrorism Centre Abuja during the opening session of the High Level African Lessons Learned Forum on Counter Terrorism Cooperation Intelligence Sharing and Emerging Technologies.

According to him the evolving threat in Nigeria requires stronger intelligence coordination sustained partnerships and practical cooperation among African countries and their international partners to effectively combat terrorism and violent extremism.

He noted that Nigeria experience over the past 15 years has shown that military operations alone cannot provide a sustainable solution to terrorism and that the country has continued to pursue a whole of government and whole of society approach to counter terrorism.

The NSA stressed that while security operations remain necessary they must be complemented by intelligence coordination law enforcement financial intelligence justice strategic communications prevention rehabilitation reintegration reconciliation community resilience education youth engagement and technology enabled analysis.

He added that no country can effectively tackle transnational terrorist networks in isolation given their ability to operate across borders communicate through digital platforms and finance their activities through international channels.

The forum which brought together defence chiefs intelligence directors and international partners is designed to help African countries compare experiences identify effective strategies and strengthen cooperation against terrorism while emphasising real time intelligence sharing and responsible use of emerging technologies.