As security chiefs assure Nigerians of improved safety and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United States begin to thaw, citizens have called on President Bola Tinubu to take tougher measures against terrorists and bring an end to the country’s persistent bloodshed.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed yesterday that the Federal Government is in dialogue with Washington following recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, which hinted at possible military action against Nigeria.
According to Idris, diplomatic engagements are yielding results. “Channels of communication have been opened. I can confirm that we are talking with them, and they are beginning to understand the situation better,” he said.
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Ezekwesili: Nigeria Normalising Evil
Former Minister of Education and Senior Economic Adviser at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, urged Nigerian leaders to end what she described as the normalisation of evil and human suffering.
She lamented that over 90 percent of the schoolgirls kidnapped from Chibok in 2014 were Christians, questioning the moral conscience of leaders who trivialise mass killings.
“Of what use are ‘leaders’ who do not value the lives of their people?” she asked. “We debate genocide while lives are being wasted daily.”
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Kalu: Trump Spoke the Truth
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, supported Trump’s comments on religious killings, insisting they reflect Nigeria’s grim reality.
“Let’s be honest, what Trump said is not a lie. Nigerians are being killed, whether they are Christians or Muslims,” he said, stressing that extremists are bent on destroying the country.
Kalu also blamed Western powers for flooding Africa with weapons after the downfall of leaders like Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, which he said destabilised the continent.
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Intersociety Counters Soludo’s Claim
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) disputed Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s claim that Christians are killing Christians in the South-East.
In a statement, Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi alleged that armed Fulani militants have infiltrated about 950 forest locations across the region, terrorising communities and attacking churches. He cited repeated assaults on parishes in Enugu State, including a 2022 attack in Eha-Amufu where 40 worshippers were killed.
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U.S. Congressman Seeks Sanctions, Not Invasion
In Washington, U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga criticised Nigeria’s response to religious killings, calling for targeted economic sanctions instead of military intervention.
“We were too late in Rwanda and South Sudan. Let’s not be too late again,” he warned, urging decisive action to stop extremist violence against both Christians and moderate Muslims.
Huizenga said sanctions would be more effective in cutting off funding for terror groups than any form of military incursion.
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Fani-Kayode Warns Against Trump Meeting
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, cautioned President Tinubu against meeting Trump, claiming the former U.S. president seeks to provoke religious division and exploit Nigeria’s natural resources.
Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Law Week in Akure, he urged the government to “ruthlessly annihilate” terrorist groups and avoid any negotiation with them. “The world wants action, not empty promises,” he stated.
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Adebayo to Tinubu: Use the Gun or Resign
Former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, also challenged President Tinubu to decisively tackle insecurity or step down.
“President Tinubu can either use the bullet to end terrorism or the pen to resign,” Adebayo declared, accusing the political class of exploiting insecurity for personal gain.
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Army Chief: Expect Improved Security Soon
Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, assured Nigerians of better security outcomes following his briefing to the President at the State House, Abuja.
He said recent assessments from military operations, especially in the Northeast, show progress in the fight against insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping. “Improved security across the country,” he promised confidently.
Nigeria Acquires $801m U.S. Military Assets
Meanwhile, the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) revealed that the Tinubu administration has purchased $801 million worth of military equipment from the United States in the last 18 months, roughly ₦1.15 trillion.
According to IMPI Chairman, Dr. Omoniyi Akinsiju, the acquisitions demonstrate the government’s commitment to modernising the armed forces.
He disclosed that Nigeria recently bought 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters worth $455 million and signed another $346 million deal for over 1,000 MK-82 bombs and 5,000 precision-guided weapons to strengthen counterterrorism operations.
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