Shehu Sani Backs Joint US Strikes, Urges Nigeria To Take Charge Of Its Security

Senator Shehu Sani has described the United States military airstrikes on terrorist targets in North-West Nigeria as a “conscionable action,” emphasising that Nigeria must ultimately take responsibility for its own security.

Sani made the remarks in a statement shared on his verified X account on Friday, while reacting to comments by US President Donald Trump, who announced that American forces had carried out deadly airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants operating in North-Western Nigeria.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in North-West Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday.

US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, also confirmed the operation, thanking the Nigerian government for its cooperation. “Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation,” Hegseth wrote, adding that the Department of War was “always ready.”

Reacting, Sani said the strikes were justified if they were truly conducted in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, as indicated by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).

“If actually the military strikes against the terrorists’ targets in the North Western 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 said.

The former lawmaker warned that terrorist groups operating across parts of the country posed a severe 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,” Sani stated.

He also rejected claims that terrorist violence in Nigeria targets only one religious group, describing such narratives as false and misleading.

“The narrative that the evil terrorists only target one faith remains absolutely false and misleading,” he said.

However, Sani cautioned against over-dependence on foreign military intervention, stressing that sustainable peace must be driven by Nigerians themselves.

“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.”

His comments come amid reports of airstrikes in North-West Nigeria, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said were carried out through collaboration with the United States as part of structured security cooperation with international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism.

The airstrikes followed a series of security incidents nationwide, including a deadly bombing at a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, which claimed several lives—highlighting the wider threat of terrorism affecting communities across religious lines.