Nigerians Eagerly Anticipating US Assistance In Identifying Terrorist Sponsors
Nigerians hopes were raised recently when US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, stated that the world’s most powerful country is willing to assist in exposing those responsible for terrorism in the country.
Leonard was questioned on whether the US was willing to name terrorism sponsors in Nigeria at a discussion with media in Abuja on Monday, May 30, 2021. “That is something we are very eager to partner Nigeria on,” she was reported as saying. “I have had at least three conversations in the last two months on this subject. I won’t like to go into details”.
Nigerians were encouraged by this since it is often believed that external stimulus from a country with such vast military and intelligence capabilities as America might help speed the end of terrorism in the country. Jihadists, terrorism sympathizers, and helpers have long been recognized to hold powerful positions in our society.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan once openly bemoaned the presence of Boko Haram agents in his administration. Aside from that, the few times some names of occupants of specific government offices were mentioned were through rumors.
The only time benefactors were named was when six Nigerians residing in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, were convicted for financing the Boko Haram militants in November of last year. Other terrorist organizations, in addition to Boko Haram, are active throughout the country.
These include individuals dubbed “Bandits” by President Muhammadu Buhari for killing, kidnapping school children and other innocent residents for ransom, and targeting military installations in the North West.
The militants disguised as “herdsmen,” with several known groups functioning as their mouthpieces, are another equally lethal terrorist group.
These terrorist gangs, claiming “ownership” of Nigeria, have been attacking and killing indigenous Nigerians, displacing them of their lands, kidnapping for ransom, and enjoying the state’s implicit protection. The Global Terrorism Index, or GTI, has ranked these organizations as the fourth-worst terror group in the world since 2015.
If these terrorist groups and their benefactors are permitted to continue their bloodthirsty exploits in Nigeria, we will be on our way to Afghanistan and Darfur in no time. We hope that the United States, as Nigeria’s traditional and vital friend, will assist in preserving Nigeria as a free, multi-religious, democratic federal republic under secular constitutional governance. These are the foundational values of our country.
The adversaries in our midst must not be permitted to continue waging ethnic and religious warfare against law-abiding indigenous Nigerians for personal benefit. They must be made public.
