The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called on the United Nations and other international partners to intensify support for member states grappling with escalating terrorist violence across the region, including Nigeria.

In a communiqué issued recently, ECOWAS condemned the growing number of attacks by armed groups that indiscriminately target civilians, stressing that terrorism in the region “does not discriminate” on the basis of religion, gender, ethnicity, or age.

The regional bloc firmly dismissed what it described as “false and dangerous claims” suggesting that extremist groups are targeting particular religious communities or that genocide is being perpetrated against any faith group. ECOWAS warned that such narratives could inflame tensions and undermine social cohesion across affected nations.

“ECOWAS called on the whole world to stand by the countries in the region in their fight against terrorism that targets all communities,” the statement read.

The appeal comes amid a surge in attacks attributed to various extremist factions operating in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions, heightening insecurity and humanitarian crises across West Africa.