One strike cannot address Nigeria’s security challenges — Ex- US army captain
A retired Captain of the United States Army, Bish Johnson, has stated that Nigeria's security crisis cannot be resolved through a singular military action, cautioning that the nation is confronted with a complex insecurity issue.
Johnson made these remarks during an interview on ARISE News on Friday evening, in response to the recent airstrikes conducted by the United States against terrorists in north-western Nigeria.
On Christmas Day, US President Donald Trump declared that American forces executed lethal strikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria, promising further measures if the group persisted in its attacks on Christians.
Subsequently, Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the operation, indicating that it aimed at targeting terrorist elements through collaboration with the United States as part of "structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America," which is focused on combating terrorism and violent extremism.
Nevertheless, Johnson warned that Nigeria's insecurity extends beyond mere terrorism.
"If we fail to accurately diagnose our problem, we will arrive at incorrect solutions.
"While there is indeed a terrorist element in the North-West, the issue is far more intricate than it is often portrayed."
He highlighted the ongoing herder-farmer conflicts in the Middle Belt, which he noted have resulted in thousands of fatalities and remain unresolved.
"The issue of herder-farmer clashes, which have taken countless lives in the Middle Belt, has not been adequately addressed, and it continues to persist.
"Thus, Nigeria faces a multifaceted insecurity challenge that cannot be resolved by this single strike. Additionally, there is the matter of Sharia law in northern Nigeria."
The security consultant also referenced instances of religious violence, including the tragic killing of Deborah Samuel, a Christian student who was lynched and stoned to death by her peers in Sokoto State.
Deborah Samuel, a second-year student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was brutally killed in May 2022 after being accused of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
“Unfortunately, we saw what happened in Sokoto State, where a young lady, Deborah Samuel, was lynched and stoned to death in broad daylight by her fellow schoolmates,” Johnson said.
He noted that no one has been held accountable for the killing, describing it as one of several incidents influencing international perception of Nigeria.
“Up till now, none of the people responsible for the death of that innocent young lady have been brought to justice,” he said. “These are some of the issues the Americans are observing, which is why they are tagging this as religious persecution.”
Johnson said such incidents make it difficult for Nigeria to counter claims of religious intolerance.
“It’s difficult to convince Americans otherwise when you have situations like what happened in Sokoto—and that’s not the only place where similar incidents have occurred and people have not been brought to book,” he added.
