SHEHU SANI BACKS AIRSTRIKES ON TERRORISTS, CAUTIONS ON FOREIGN DEPENDENCE
Read Time:2 Minute, 21 Second
By: Sefiu Ajape
Former Senator Shehu Sani has described the reported military airstrikes on terrorist targets in North West Nigeria as a “conscionable action,” while emphasising that the country must ultimately take responsibility for its own security.
Sani made the remarks in a statement shared on his verified X handle on Friday, reacting to comments by United States President Donald Trump, who said on Thursday that US forces carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in Northwestern Nigeria.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In a separate post, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation was carried out with Nigeria’s cooperation.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” Hegseth wrote, adding that the Department of War was “always ready.”
Reacting to the development, Sani said, “If actually, the military strikes against the terrorists’ targets in the North Western part of Nigeria were a joint operation with the ‘Nigerian Authorities’ as posted by the US AFRICOM on their verified X handle, then it’s a conscionable action.”
He described terrorist groups operating in parts of the country as a serious threat to national stability, referring to them as “cancerous cells.”
“Terrorists have become cancerous cells in our part of the country. They live by the sword,” he said.
The former lawmaker also dismissed claims that terrorist violence in Nigeria targets only one religious group, describing such narratives as misleading.
“The narrative that the evil terrorists only target one faith remains absolutely false and misleading,” Sani stated.
However, he cautioned against over-reliance on foreign military intervention, stressing that sustainable peace must be driven from within.
“Again, the ultimate security and peace in our country lies with ourselves and not with the US or any foreign power,” he said.
“They can complementarily or unilaterally strike, but they can’t eternally fight our battles.”
Sani’s comments come amid reports of recent airstrikes in North West Nigeria, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said were conducted through collaboration with the United States as part of “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, also said the operation demonstrated the Federal Government’s resolve, in partnership with strategic international allies, to confront transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from gaining a foothold in Nigeria.
The reported strikes followed a series of security incidents across the country, including a deadly bombing at a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, which killed several worshippers, highlighting the broader challenge of terrorism and violent extremism affecting communities across religious lines.
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