Timi Frank, an activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has explained why the United States, led by President Donald Trump, should act independently against terrorism in Nigeria.
He further urged that the US should halt its existing military cooperation with Nigeria over recent comments attributed to Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi on banditry and terrorism.
Frank disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Gumi had suggested that Nigerian authorities may know the identities and locations of bandits.
Reacting, Frank said Gumi’s remarks raised serious questions about the handling of insecurity in Nigeria.
According to him, if the Nigerian government knows the location of the criminal bandits and terrorists, its citizens deserve the right to know why insecurity has not been crushed.
He alleged that the current All Progressives Congress government under President Bola Tinubu wants insecurity to persist so it can be used to “rig the 2027 general elections in Nigeria”.
“If it is true that the government knows the names of these bandits, knows where they are located, and even knows their camps, then Nigerians deserve to know why decisive action has not been taken,” he said.
“I am calling on the United States government to be very careful in its dealings with the current Nigerian administration. The U.S. should suspend intelligence sharing and security cooperation with the Nigerian government and its security chiefs.”
The activist alleged that despite the security assistance Nigeria has received from international partners, the situation on the ground has continued to deteriorate.
“There appears to be a pattern where the government continues to receive security assistance and aid from the United States and other international partners, yet insecurity keeps worsening,” he said.
The activist called on President Trump to take decisive steps against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria and act independently if necessary.
“We are appealing directly to President Donald Trump to take a strong and decisive stand. If the United States truly wants to help Nigeria defeat terrorism and make the country great again, it should be prepared to act firmly against the terrorists responsible for the violence.
“The United States should be ready to take bold steps in confronting terrorist networks threatening Nigeria, even if it means acting independently like it did on Christmas Eve against those responsible for the violence,” Frank said.
Gumi’s comments: US should act independently against terrorism in Nigeria — Timi Frank