Expert: Military action alone cannot defeat terrorism in Nigeria

Nigerians, particularly those in Sokoto state, as well as security experts on the continent, have much to say about the airstrikes the United States carried out in the region on Thursday.

Dr. Oluwole Ojewale, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies based in Dakar, Senegal, says he wasn't surprised.

"The strikes were expected, given the nature of the security collaboration between the two countries in recent years. However, many people were caught off guard."

Ojewale emphasized that the strikes should not be described as a U.S. intervention because Nigeria’s sovereignty was respected. However, he cast doubt on their effectiveness in improving the security situation in the West African country.

"It is a welcome development, but military action alone is not enough to defeat terrorists anywhere in the world. The areas where I would expect the U.S. to support Nigeria include building the state's capacity in intelligence gathering, helping tackle terrorism logistics and financing, and strengthening border security, among other priorities."

The security expert described Nigeria’s security situation as complex, partly due to its porous borders.

According to U.S. President Donald Trump, the strikes targeted Islamic State (IS)-linked militants. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, he also condemned the group for killing "innocent Christians."

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar clarified that the strikes, conducted by a warship from the Gulf of Guinea, were focused on terrorist targets and were not specific to any religion. Tuggar added that Nigeria assisted the U.S. with intelligence and approved the airstrikes.