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Following the recent Nigeria/US agreement on security cooperation, President Bola Tinubu has approved the constitution of the Nigerian side of the Joint Working Group. The constitution of the team followed a recent visit to Washington DC by a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Other members of the team include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard M. Doro, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
A release by the presidency indicated that the team had already met with senior officials across the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council, and the Department of War. The team refuted the allegation of genocide in Nigeria and stressed that violent attacks affect families and communities along religious and ethnic lines. It also rejected the erroneous framing of the crisis, stressing that such mischaracterization could only divide Nigerians and distort the realities on the ground.
“Following these engagements, the United States Government affirmed its readiness to deepen security cooperation with Nigeria. This includes enhanced intelligence support, expedited processing of defence equipment requests, and the potential provision of excess defence articles—subject to availability—to reinforce ongoing operations against terrorists and violent extremist groups,” the Presidency stated. It added that the United States also expressed its willingness to extend complementary support, including humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the Middle Belt and technical support to strengthen early-warning mechanisms.
The move by the two countries is a step in the right direction. It came on the heels of renewed attacks in churches, schools and kidnap of schoolchildren in the North and other parts of the country, which saw the US declaring Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). A country classified as CPC is one that shows clear and consistent patterns of religious intolerance, discrimination, or persecution.
The categorization comes with certain implications including strong diplomatic engagement, public condemnation, restricting or withdrawing development assistance, limiting or suspending security assistance, opposing loans, or blocking export licenses. In addition to the CPC classification, the US doubled down with threats of possible deployment of troops to the troubled parts of the country. Nigeria has denied the charge, arguing that killings and displacements in the North are not targeted at any particular faith or denomination.
With the recent agreement between Nigeria and the US on security cooperation, there is hope that the nation’s rising security challenges will soon be addressed. Insecurity has been on the rise in the country. Recently, Brigadier- General Musa Uba of the 25 Task Force Brigade, was ambushed by terrorists and gruesomely murdered. About four Nigerian soldiers were also killed in the attack. Within the same period, terrorists and bandits kidnapped 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State.
The Kebbi incident took place barely two days after 16 vigilante members were killed and 42 residents kidnapped in separate attacks by bandits in the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State. Also, armed gangs attacked Fegin Baza village in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing three persons and abducting about 64 people. In another incident, criminals launched assault on Tsohuwar Tasha village in the Ruwan Doruwa Ward of Maru Local Government, also in Zamfara, abducting 14 people, including 11 women and three children. Elsewhere, armed men reportedly abducted several passengers along the Ogobia–Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.
In addition, gunmen killed some worshippers and abducted several others, including a pastor, during an attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Though some of the abductees have been rescued, others are still with their captors. It is good that Nigeria and US are making progress in security cooperation. The security challenge in the country is disturbing. Nigeria needs the US collaboration in terms of equipment, technology and intelligence to tackle the menace.
The war against the terrorists has lasted for too long and taken a great toll on Nigerians. It should not be interminable. The life of every Nigerian matters. It is sad that the terrorists are reportedly controlling some local government areas in the country. The federal government should use all available support to end the insecurity in the country. Let the government deploy drones to check the escalating security challenges. The Nigeria/US agreement on security cooperation should be fully implemented.
