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heyOver the past few years, I have testified in Washington about atrocities taking place in Nigeria, including in my own Ondo State. On a personal level, I have felt compelled to open my home to help people in need, giving them shelter and protection while their government does nothing.
I remember saying goodbye to 14-year-old Hauva as she walked out of the safety of my compound, it was one of the hardest moments of my life. His “crime” was attempting to worship peacefully churchBut still, I wondered if I would see her again and if she would get home safely.
When? President Trump Earlier this week he sparked concern by calling on extremists to stop targeting Christians NigeriaTo some extent this is driven by the government’s need to step back and try to cover up the situation.
The President is right to believe that my country urgently needs strong action to end the insecurity that has haunted our people for decades and which still hinders our development.
Millions of people are suffering primarily because of federal negligence and an unwillingness to request military assistance from allies, including the United States, to eliminate the radical Islamic threat in our country. northern region,
The targeting of innocent Christian worshipers by fundamentalist groups is unacceptable and requires coordinated, targeted military intervention to come to grips with this issue. If such attacks are carried out in conjunction with the Nigerian security forces, they should be supported.
Action over rhetoric will be welcomed by millions of Nigerians, but boots on the ground can never infringe on or engage Nigerian sovereignty.a blaze of guns” Approach,
While insecurity is mostly indiscriminate, some communities, including churches, in the North are being targeted by Boko Haram with genocidal intent. I have seen this with my own eyes.
Churches, homes, farms and the future of millions of Nigerians have, for more than a decade, been reduced to embers. Hopefully the spotlight on this issue from Washington will help ensure that our fortunes are reversed and ultimately spur the government to action.
Nigerian governments, past and present, have long been reluctant to ask for support, perhaps embarrassed by their own failures and, in some cases, military complicity. They have tried new tactics, including strengthening domestic security forces and military strikes, but these have failed.
While the world had paid close attention to it just a decade ago 276 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram In the city of Chibok (about 100 are still missing), other atrocities have been largely ignored.
More than 1,600 other schoolchildren have since been abducted, and according to UN estimates, more than 7.8 million people, 80 percent of them women and children, have been displaced in the past 15 years since Boko Haram began its terror campaign.
As a result, investor confidence has diminished, playing a major role in Nigeria’s economic stagnation. More than half our population (129 million) lives in poverty, and more than 30 percent are unemployed. Opportunities are scarce for our youth.
Intervention carries significant risks and could worsen an already stressful environment, given that previous efforts have not addressed the underlying causes. But millions of people are still suffering and cries for help are being ignored.
Guns and bullets alone cannot solve all of Nigeria’s security challenges. The government should adopt a multi-pronged strategy, share critical military intelligence with our neighbors and allies, including Washington, as well as enhance domestic coordination.
Increasing investment in core public services, including education, across the country, empowering our youth and weaning them from terror must be an inevitable condition. It’s definitely something I hold sacred.
Nigeria remains an enigma. We are a country brimming with unmatched entrepreneurial potential and talent, with an average age of just 18 years. And yet Nigerians are being held back by self-serving politicians, including those who are satisfied with the status quo, which means insecurity and corruption remain rife.
More than half of Nigerians are trapped in poverty, with millions unsure whether their journey to school or work will be safe. For them, survival is often a luxury.
Terrorist groups seek to weaponize dissent and undermine democracy. Actually, the name Boko Haram itself means “Western education is prohibited“. The group has pledged solidarity with al-Qaeda and threatened not only Nigerians but also the United States. It is not alone.
Islamic State West Africa Province It also remains strong and seemingly immovable, operating under a simple but effective playbook that exploits widespread poverty and underdevelopment, recruiting youth to its cause for just a few dollars. Kidnapping, rape, torture and other crimes against humanity have gone relatively unchallenged for more than a decade.
President Trump is right to highlight our deteriorating security situation. If Nigeria were to coordinate with partners like the US, it could eventually remove one of the main obstacles to our economic and social development.
Ultimately, however, it will be the job of the Nigerian administration to ensure that such success is achieved. Like many other Nigerians, sadly, I am not convinced that the current government is up to the task.
Lawyer and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Nigeria, Prince Adewole Adebayo, is running for president in the 2027 elections