Why US–Nigeria counter-terrorism cooperation remains critical to defeating insurgency

By: Zagazola Makama

The ongoing United States–Nigeria counter-terrorism operations are critical not only to degrading terrorist networks, but also to helping the international community, particularly the U.S., better understand the scale, complexity and human cost of Nigeria’s long-running war against terrorism.

Nigeria has battled multiple terror and extremist groups for over a decade, with attacks spanning the North-East, North-West and North-Central zones, claiming thousands of lives, displacing millions and overstretching security and humanitarian resources.

Therefore, deeper operational cooperation allows the U.S. to see firsthand the terrain, tactics and evolving threat environment Nigerian forces contend with daily from suicide bombings and IED warfare to cross-border terrorism, banditry and extremist collaboration.

Joint operations provide a clearer picture of what Nigeria is passing through. It is different from reading intelligence reports. When partners operate together, there is a better appreciation of the sacrifices, the operational difficulties and the resilience required to fight terrorism in this environment.

Though, nothing new in what the Nigeria Air Force was already doing but the cooperation, will enhanced intelligence sharing, surveillance, training and technical support, while also improving Nigeria’s capacity to disrupt terrorist logistics, communication and financing networks.

Nigeria brings critical advantages to the partnership, including local knowledge, community structures and long-term operational presence, while the U.S. contributes advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, precision strike support and global counter-terrorism experience.

This synergy will help narrow intelligence gaps, improve early warning systems and strengthen the ability of Nigerian forces to respond to threats more proactively. Beyond military gains, the partnership helps place Nigeria’s security challenges in proper global context, correcting misconceptions that often underestimate the intensity of terrorist violence in the country.

The collaboration helps the U.S. and other international partners understand that Nigeria is not facing isolated incidents but a sustained, multi-front war. That understanding is essential for sustained diplomatic, technical and humanitarian support, rather than the rhetoric being purported about the conflict.

The partnership also sends a strong message to terrorist groups that Nigeria is not isolated in its fight, and that attacks on civilians and security personnel attract international attention and consequences.

However, counter-terrorism cooperation must go beyond kinetic operations. Those executing these operations must put emphasized on the importance of civilian protection, community engagement and post-conflict stabilisation, as lasting peace cannot be achieved through force alone.

Why US–Nigeria counter-terrorism cooperation remains critical to defeating insurgency

VP Shettima, Zulum Visit Maiduguri Mosque Bomb Blast Victims

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima and The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, on Friday paid a visit to victims of Wednesday’s bomb blast at a mosque in Maiduguri who are currently receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

The visit was to sympathise with those injured in the devastating explosion that targeted a mosque in Gamboru Market on Wednesday, December 24. The attack, believed to have been carried out by Boko Haram insurgents, resulted in multiple casualties and injuries.

Speaking to journalists at the hospital, Vice President Shettima, who was accompanied by Governor Zulum, consoled the victims and reiterated the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu administration to ending the threat of terrorism and restoring lasting peace in the country.

“We are here on behalf of the President to sympathise with the victims and reassure the good people of Borno, and by extension the nation, that the government remains unwaveringly committed to securing the lives and property of its citizens,” Zulum said.

He added, “The Governor of Borno has been up and doing, working round the clock to complement the efforts of the Federal Government, and we sincerely appreciate the efforts and investments in the security architecture by the Borno State Government.”

The delegation was briefed by the Director of the Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Centre, who reported that many of the victims had been discharged, others were responding well to treatment, while one remained in critical condition.

VP Shettima, Zulum Visit Maiduguri Mosque Bomb Blast Victims

U.S. president orders deadly strikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria

By: Zagazola Makama

President Donald J. Trump announced that the United States had launched a powerful and deadly military strike against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist targets in Nigeria, in response to what he described as ongoing attacks on primarily innocent Christians in the region.

In a post on his social media platform, Mr. Trump said the operation was conducted “at my direction as Commander in Chief” and targeted ISIS militants whom he accused of “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.”

The president said he had previously warned the extremist group to halt attacks on Christians or face consequences, adding: “tonight, there was.”

Mr. Trump described the strikes as “numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” and reiterated that under his leadership the U.S. would not allow “Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.” He extended Christmas greetings to U.S. military forces and said there would be “many more” such strikes if the killing of Christians continued.

The announcement marks a significant escalation of U.S. military involvement in Nigeria’s complex security landscape. Western and Nigerian officials have long warned that militant groups such as ISIS’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram pose a persistent threat in northern Nigeria, where attacks on civilians including Christians and Muslims alike have killed thousands over the past decade.

Reactions to the U.S. action are still emerging. The strikes come amid ongoing debates over Nigeria’s sovereignty and the best approach to combat extremist violence in West Africa. Previous statements by the Nigerian government welcomed U.S. assistance in fighting terrorism provided it respects the country’s territorial integrity.

The full military impact of the operation including casualties among militants or its implications for Nigeria’s internal security strategy has not yet been independently verified.
End