The number of Islamic State (ISIS) members defecting in Nigeria has increased by more than 200 per cent since a joint military operation by Nigerian and United States forces in May, Dagvin Anderson, Commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), has said.

Anderson attributed the increase to the impact of the operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the global terror group’s second-in-command, as well as subsequent military operations conducted by Nigerian forces against terrorist networks.

Speaking on Monday on the sidelines of the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) in Lagos, Anderson said the development, alongside reported reductions in attacks and violence, indicated that the combined military pressure was producing results.

AFRICOM commander said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and the integration of Nigerian forces’ local knowledge with the United States’ understanding of international terrorist networks.

“The partnership with the Nigerian Armed Forces and Nigerian intelligence was exceptional, and that’s what really enabled that partnership to happen and to take out the number two terrorist in the world for ISIS,” Anderson said.

He explained that the operation benefited from intelligence cooperation and a shared understanding of how terrorist organisations operate across national and regional boundaries.

“Some of it is intelligence, but also understanding of the terrorist network globally. And so Nigeria brings the regional and local understanding, while we bring the global network understanding, and together that becomes very powerful,” he said.

Anderson said the United States would continue to work with Nigerian security agencies, providing intelligence, specialised capabilities and training to support operations against terrorist organisations.

Anderson also said combining these capabilities had strengthened the partnership between the two countries and enabled them to conduct operations against high-value terrorist targets.

In May, Nigerian and US forces conducted operations in north-eastern Nigeria that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom the report identified as ISIS’s second-in-command globally.

In June, AFRICOM announced that it had withdrawn most of the US personnel deployed for the operation but would continue to provide intelligence support to Nigeria.

Anderson cautioned against relying exclusively on military intervention to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

He said terrorism and kidnapping required a broader response that included investment in governance and development, particularly in communities vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups.

Anderson said Nigeria’s programme for reintegrating defectors into society was an important part of the response.

He stressed that authorities needed to consider how the country’s growing youth population could be mobilised towards productive activities rather than violence.

“How do you take the growing youth population and channel that energy for a positive effort? And to me, that’s what we all need to work on, but it has to be done locally,” he said.

Anderson also identified the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as an important development for regional security cooperation.

He said the United States was seeking to reopen dialogue with the three countries to strengthen cooperation on security matters.

The three Sahelian countries, which have experienced military takeovers and persistent militant violence, withdrew from ECOWAS and subsequently established the Alliance of Sahel States.

He also identified terrorist financing, piracy, smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal fishing as major security concerns.