THE United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism has warned that the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL or ISIS), a terrorist group, is gradually expanding its affiliates and network beyond Syria and Iraq into Africa at an “unsettling” scale and pace.

Acting Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate Weixiong Chen, told the Security Council on Wednesday that many States had been forced to divert counter-terrorism resources to pandemic-related efforts, while terrorists became even more adept at using social media and online platforms to pursue their aims.

As Council members took the floor, most agreed broadly that the threats posed by ISIL/Da’esh, Al-Qaida and a range of other terrorist factions have not diminished, but instead have shifted to other modalities and other parts of the globe.

The Under-Secretary-General of the UN office of counter-terrorism Vladimir Voronkov stated that the ISIS terrorist activities are intensifying in Central and West Africa, especially Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and Niger, and attacks are increasingly reported in the border area between Mozambique and Tanzania.

Voronkov noted that although a targeted attack reportedly resulted in the death of the ISIL/Da’esh leader Amir Muhammad Sa’id Abdal-Rahman al-Salbi, widely known as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, there was need for caution as the group is known for its ability to re-group and intensify its activities.

“We have learned over the past two decades that counter-terrorism is a long-term game and that there are no quick fixes. As we begin a new decade of counter-terrorism, it is time to ask ourselves difficult questions and search for honest answers,” he said.

Voronkov also stressed the need for both military counter-terrorism operations and more comprehensive measures with a focus on prevention, urging states to use all tools at their disposal to stem the trend.

Many other speakers voiced concern about the plight of children caught up in the global battle against terrorism, noting the high numbers of detained children with presumed links to ISIL/Da’esh in Syria and Iraq.

Last week, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, warned that the spate of insecurity may consume the country if urgent steps are not taken to curb the menace.