Jihadi fighters who had long operated in Africa’s volatile Sahel region have settled in northwestern Nigeria after crossing from neighboring Benin, according to a new report, the latest trend in the militants’ movements to wealthier West African coastal nations. They say the park and most protected wildlife areas in Nigeria are poorly patrolled, making them easy targets for armed groups. The Clingendael report said it is unclear what the motive of the Sahel extremists in the park is and what their relationship with other armed groups there will be. AdvertisementAcross many villages in Nigeria’s northwest, banditry — not jihadi fighters — remains the major security threat, Barnett said. The bandits have on a few occasions in the past collaborated with jihadi fighters as two separate groups in carrying out attacks.
