Nigeria Hosted Regional Counterterrorism Training
The program aims to combat the exploitation of digital tools by terrorist groups operating across the region.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Terrorism
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Nigeria launched a three-day regional training program in Abuja to address how terrorist groups use artificial intelligence, drones, and virtual assets. Participants from ECOWAS and the Multinational Joint Task Force are learning to disrupt these digital threats.
Why it matters
Terrorist organizations are increasingly using social media, messaging apps, and cryptocurrency to finance operations and recruit members across borders. Strengthening regional intelligence sharing is essential to effectively countering these modern tactics.
The National Counter Terrorism Centre is currently pursuing accreditation as a Regional Centre of Excellence. This effort supports the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre's cybersecurity goals for the 2026-2030 period.
The players
Adamu Laka
Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka is the official who opened the training program in Abuja.
National Counter Terrorism Centre
The NCTC is a Nigerian agency currently working to secure status as a Regional Centre of Excellence.
ECOWAS
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional political and economic union involved in the security training.
Multinational Joint Task Force
This is a combined military formation comprising forces from countries in the Lake Chad region.
African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre
The AUCTC is an intergovernmental body coordinating counter-terrorism efforts across the continent.
The details
The program emphasizes a train-the-trainer model to expand expertise and establishes new mechanisms for lawful cyber threat information exchange between security agencies. This initiative aligns with the 2024 High-Level Africa Counterterrorism Summit declaration.
Timeline
The training program took place over a three-day period ending in October 2026.
The AUCTC Continental Cybersecurity Capability Programme spans from 2026 through 2030.
Legal Context
This training follows a pattern set by the 2024 High-Level Africa Counterterrorism Summit declaration. The initiative seeks to formalize regional cooperation against emerging digital threats in accordance with continental security frameworks.
This regional coordination aims to disrupt the digital infrastructure used by terrorist groups, which may enhance security in the West Africa and Sahel regions. Residents and local businesses may see increased focus on cyber threat intelligence sharing between security agencies.
The takeaway
Regional cooperation is vital for staying ahead of non-state actors who exploit global digital platforms. Security agencies rely on these cross-border information exchanges to anticipate and mitigate threats in an increasingly connected landscape.
Further reading
Learn more about global security efforts in the Terrorism section.
Live Poll
Do you trust that your regional government can effectively counter the use of new technology by terrorists?
