Former Senator Shehu Sani has welcomed the reported military airstrikes on terrorist targets in Northwest Nigeria as “conscionable action,” emphasizing that Nigeria must eventually accept responsibility for its own security.
Sani responded in a statement posted on his verified X on Friday, following remarks made by US President Donald Trump on Thursday claiming US forces had carried out lethal attacks against Islamic State militants 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 social media post, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Washington acted with Nigeria’s cooperation.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” Hegseth wrote, adding that the Department of War was “always ready.”
Reacting, Sani said, “If, actually, the military strikes against the terrorists’ targets in the northwestern 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 stated that the terrorist groups operating in parts of the country posed a grave threat to national stability, describing them as “cancerous cells.”
“Terrorists have become cancerous cells in our part of the country. They live by the sword,” he said.
Sani also rejected 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, Sani warned against over-reliance on foreign military intervention, insisting that lasting peace must be driven internally.
“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 in the wake of recent airstrikes in Northwest Nigeria, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as part of “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the country.
Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, stated that the operation highlighted the Federal Government’s determination, in concert with important international partners, to combat transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from establishing a foothold in Nigeria.
The airstrikes came after recent security incidents around the country, including a horrific blast at a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, that killed numerous worshippers, highlighting the greater challenge of terrorism and violent extremism hitting communities across religious lines.
