Counter-terrorism, Multinational Joint Task Force and the missing components

The wave of terrorism in the Lake Chad region has generated collective reactions from the affected state actors. It apparently prompted the revivification of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) as a regional counter-terrorism regime with sole emphasis on the use of force. However, while the over-reliance on the power of coercion may be capable of achieving its mandate in the short run, how sustainable is the approach for embedding regional peace and security? It is against this background that this article interrogates the counter-terrorism framework orchestrates through the MNJTF and the missing components. It argues that sole reliance on a concerted military approach in countering terrorism will not address the root causes and may further incubate violent extremism.