Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has weighed in on the recent U.S. airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Northwest Nigeria, calling the move a “conscionable action.” His comments follow the confirmation from Defence Headquarters that the operation was a coordinated effort between Nigerian forces and the United States military to dismantle ISIS-linked groups in the region.
Writing on his verified social media account, Sani noted that if the strikes were indeed a joint operation as claimed by U.S. AFRICOM, then the intervention was a necessary step. The Senator described these terrorist groups as “cancerous cells” that have plagued the nation for far too long. He also took the opportunity to correct a common narrative, insisting that these groups do not discriminate in their violence. He argued that it is misleading to suggest they only target one faith, as their path of destruction affects all Nigerians regardless of their religious beliefs.
While Sani welcomed the foreign support, he was quick to issue a reminder about the limits of outside intervention. He cautioned that Nigeria must not become overly dependent on international powers to solve its internal crises. In his view, while the U.S. or other allies can provide a much-needed boost through precision strikes, they cannot be expected to fight Nigeria’s battles forever. He maintained that true and lasting peace must ultimately be secured by the country’s own strength and domestic strategies.
The military operation itself has gained international attention following a blunt announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. Trump linked the “deadly strikes” to the protection of innocent lives, specifically citing the killing of Christians as a red line his administration refused to ignore. He warned that this mission was just the beginning and that there would be “hell to pay” if the violence in the region did not come to an end.
From the Nigerian side, Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, confirmed that the strikes were carried out within a legal and structured framework of international cooperation. He assured the public that the operation was designed to hit foreign ISIS elements with high precision while carefully avoiding damage to surrounding communities. This military push comes at a critical time, as the country still reels from other security breaches, including a tragic mosque bombing in Maiduguri.
