Afenifere backs US airstrike on terrorists in north-western Nigeria

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has thrown its weight behind the recent United States airstrike targeting suspected terrorist elements in north-western Nigeria.

The endorsement followed confirmation by Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters that the strikes were carried out by US forces with the approval of the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government, based on shared intelligence to weaken extremist groups in the region.

In a statement on Friday, Afenifere’s National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, described the military action as timely, necessary and long overdue, noting the prolonged insecurity in affected communities.

“The recent confirmation by the Defence Headquarters that the joint airstrikes conducted by Nigerian and United States military forces against ISIS terrorist elements in north-west Nigeria were executed with the approval of the appropriate Federal Government authorities is both timely and necessary.

“Afenifere unequivocally supports this decisive action, which comes after years of relentless insecurity that has held communities hostage and undermined the very fabric of the nation.

“At this critical juncture, the involvement of the United States in the ongoing counter-terrorism operations deserves recognition, not condemnation. For far too long, innocent Nigerians have been subjected to relentless attacks, abductions and wanton destruction of property, while insufficient measures were taken to decisively confront these terrorist enclaves,” the statement read.

Afenifere attributed the insecurity to weak governance and security lapses over the years and stressed that true sovereignty lies in a government’s ability to protect its citizens, enforce the law and secure its territory.

The group commended the federal government for the coordinated response and urged political leaders, civil society groups and Nigerians to support the counter-terrorism efforts rather than engage in misplaced criticism.