text:  Leaders of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS are holding a crisis meeting in Nigeria after three countries under military rule cut ties to form a breakaway confederation. Efforts to return Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger to the bloc and the creation of a standby force to combat regional insecurity will feature high on the agenda. Jihadist groups have intensified their activities in areas bordering the three countries. Chris Iwoko reports from Abuja.