Nigerians — Muslims and Christians alike — have been brutally killed in Benue, Plateau, Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, Ondo, Enugu, and Ebonyi States. Yet, the pattern of attacks suggests that Christians have borne a disproportionate share of the violence, given the relentless destruction of Churches and the concentration of killings in predominantly Christian communities. Illustratively, gunmen once stormed a Catholic Church in Ondo State during Sunday Mass, killing 41 worshippers and wounding dozens. Deborah Samuel, a student, was lynched by her peers for a social media post about Jesus. Leah Sharibu remains in captivity for her refusal to renounce the Christian faith, even after her Muslim schoolmates were released.
Meanwhile, the targeting of clergy has become a tragic norm — priests and pastors murdered or kidnapped with alarming frequency. Equally disturbing are reports that so-called “repentant” terrorists have been reintegrated into the security architecture, a move that raises profound questions about national security and justice for victims. At one point, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as describing an “attack on Boko Haram” as an “attack on the North.” Statements like these, whether misinterpreted or not, only deepen public distrust and embolden extremists. The undeniable truth is that Nigerians are being slaughtered daily. Must it continue this way? After years of failed strategies and half-hearted efforts to eliminate Boko Haram, ISWAP, and other armed groups, Nigeria must now confront the reality that it needs external support — urgently. We therefore acknowledge President Trump’s pronouncement as a wake-up call to the Nigerian state.
His words have reverberated beyond Washington, sending a stern warning to the perpetrators of violence and reigniting global scrutiny on Nigeria’s worsening insecurity. Nevertheless, as a sovereign nation, Nigeria must tread cautiously. Foreign military intervention, however well-intentioned, carries grave implications. What is required is diplomatic engagement and constructive collaboration between Abuja and Washington — through intelligence sharing, logistical support, and coordinated strategies aimed at dismantling terrorist networks and cutting off their funding sources. The responsibility now rests squarely on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has inherited this monumental challenge. He must engage the American government at the highest diplomatic levels to forestall any scenario that could justify direct foreign military presence on Nigerian soil — an outcome that would carry severe collateral consequences.
Insecurity remains Nigeria’s most pressing existential challenge. The government must therefore act decisively to identify, pursue, and neutralise those who have brought this scourge upon the nation. No perpetrator must be allowed an escape route. More than three million Nigerians have been displaced by violence. While these atrocities did not begin with the current administration, the people have endured enough suffering and can no longer accept excuses from any quarter. Countries expressing solidarity in response to President Trump’s declaration must also proceed with caution. Nigeria must not be reduced to a testing ground for foreign influence or geopolitical maneuvering.
By and large, Nigeria requires urgent help to overcome her security crisis — but such assistance must be pursued through diplomacy, not confrontation. This is not a moment for cheap politics, partisan blame, or regional sentiment. It is time for national introspection, courageous leadership, and decisive action against the common enemies of peace — Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and all forms of organised criminality that threaten our collective survival as a nation. Most importantly, the Tinubu administration must act swiftly and resolutely to end these senseless killings — once and for all.
