- By Peter Ovie Akus
Sir: ISIS terrorists operating in Nigeria got a fitting and perfect gift on Christmas day from the US President Donald Trump when their command-and-control centre in Bauni Forest of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State was reduced to rubbles by airstrikes launched by the United States military from a naval warship in the Gulf of Guinea.
While unpatriotic elements and enemies of the nation were quick to criticize the airstrikes as a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty, further lampooning the Nigerian government and military as impotent, the moves made by the Tinubu administration since the country was designated as a country of particular concern with the infamous “guns-a-blazing” tweet, due to alleged genocide against Nigerian Christians, have shown that the Nigerian government has been secretly working in collaboration with the US government to address the issue of terrorism in Nigeria.
The bilateral cooperation was evidenced by reciprocal visits of senior government officials representing both nations, and reported sightings of US military planes flying over Sambisa Forest and other terrorists’ enclaves in the last one month. The most obvious tell that Tinubu was in the know and fully briefed on the impending airstrikes was his Christmas day tweet celebrating Christians in Nigeria where he tagged the US president’s personal handle on X. This was a novelty and obviously a go-ahead signal.
Since 2009, Nigeria has struggled with the issue of terrorism and banditry which according to Vice President Kashim Shettima, has claimed over 100,000 lives. It started with the popular Boko Haram in Borno State. Today, we now have several groups like ISWAP, Ansaru, Lakurawa, Mahmud, and other Islamic militants’ factions which have not only pledged allegiance to ISIS but also sometimes engage in violent and bloody struggles for supremacy among themselves.
Some have wondered why the Nigerian military seems incapable of defeating the terrorists even when they excel effortlessly in international assignments e.g. in putting down the recent coup in Benin Republic. There are many reasons for this and this is what has spurred some pundits and keen political watchers to call for collaboration with foreign powers to stem this ugly tide.
Aside from it being an asymmetrical warfare with different rules of engagement, there are tales of terrorist’s sympathizers in the military either for religious or pecuniary reasons. Also, tacit backing from certain political and religious elites, the absence of political will due to the need for electoral victories, and foolish policies like incorporating repentant terrorists into the Armed Forces are some of the reasons why the military cannot win this fight without external help.
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President Tinubu must not rest on his oars. While the Americans are dealing with the bandits from the sky, he needs to rally the military and intelligence community to strike while the iron is hot. Our borders should be monitored with drones for surveillance to prevent an influx of foreign fighters, to mop up those who escaped the airstrikes, and to prevent a migration towards safer areas in the country.
In 2021, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) released a list of Boko Haram sponsors. Six Nigerians were convicted in Dubai for funneling millions to fighters. Now is the time for the government to take another look at that list as many of the names on that list are still roaming around freely in Nigeria. Military victory against the terrorists will be easily attained once their source of funding is cut off.
The Global Terrorism Index of 2018 ranked Fulani herders as the third most violent terrorist group in the world. Over the course of a decade, they have become a terror force against farming communities. The solution is ranching and legislation against cattle herding in Nigeria.
•Peter Ovie Akus,
Ontario, Canada.
