UN secretary general Antonio Guterres says poverty, inequality and exclusion fuel terrorism, posing a complex and constant threat to peace and security in Nigeria and other countries.

Mr Guterres said this at the opening of the UN Third Counter-Terrorism Week on Monday in New York.

Addressing the delegates “at the forefront of a great global effort,” Mr Guterres stressed that terrorism affects every region of the world while preying on local and national vulnerabilities.

“Poverty, inequalities and social exclusion give terrorism fuel. Prejudice and discrimination targeting specific groups, cultures, religions and ethnicities give it flame,” the UN chief said.

He added that criminal activities like money laundering, illegal mining, and the trafficking of arms, drugs, stolen artefacts and human beings help fill terrorist coffers.

Since terrorism festers in complex crises with no region immune, the response to the threat must be multilateral and coordinated, said Mr Guterres, citing some key UN tools to help combat the scourge.

The UN is helping regional organisations like the African Union, working closely with civil society, including victims of terrorism, religious leaders, women and young people, to shape counter-terrorism responses, policies and programmes.

He said there were four priority areas where the counter-terrorism community should direct its efforts.

Firstly, he said the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy needed strengthening. This week, the General Assembly is expected to adopt a consensus resolution reviewing the strategy.

“The second area of focus needs to be prevention, which means addressing the underlying conditions that lead to terrorism in the first place – such as poverty, discrimination, disaffection, weak infrastructure and institutions and gross violations of human rights,” noted Mr Guterres.

This means >more than just foiling attacks and disrupting plots.” 

Terrorism represents the denial and destruction of human rights, the UN secretary general added and “so the fight against it will never succeed if we perpetuate the same denial and destruction.”

(NAN)