Former Senator and security commentator Shehu Sani has expressed conditional support for the joint U.S.–Nigeria military strikes against terrorist targets in northwest Nigeria, describing the action as justifiable and necessary given the severity of the security threat, provided that it was conducted in cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
While welcoming the strikes as a “conscionable action” against extremist groups that have destabilised parts of the country, Sani cautioned against over-reliance on foreign military power. He emphasised that Nigeria must ultimately take responsibility for securing its territory, arguing that foreign partners can provide assistance but cannot fight Nigeria’s battles indefinitely.
Sani also rejected narratives that the violence is targeted at a single religious group, labelling such claims “false and misleading.” He stressed that any partnership with external forces should complement Nigeria’s own strategic and institutional efforts to tackle terrorism, rather than supplant them.
His comments reflect a broader discourse within Nigerian political and security circles about balancing sovereignty, external support and domestic capability in addressing the complex and evolving security landscape.
