Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has thrown its weight behind the U.S. military strike in Sokoto.
President Donald Trump has announced that the United States military, at his direction, carried out a series of air strikes against terrorist targets in the northern part of Nigeria, marking America’s first kinetic action in the West African country.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries!” Mr Trump said in a statement on Truth Social late on Thursday.
In a statement on Friday by its national organising secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, Afenifere said, “The recent confirmation by the Defence Headquarters that the joint air strikes 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 group attributed the prolonged insecurity to decades of weak governance and security lapses, which it said created a vacuum for extremist groups to flourish.
Afenifere noted that “true sovereignty is measured not by rhetoric but by the capacity to protect citizens, enforce the rule of law, and secure the nation’s borders”.
“The lives of Nigerians and the preservation of national peace must always take precedence over political sentiment or populist critique. The swift and coordinated military response demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to restoring safety and stability to affected regions,” the Yoruba group pointed out.
It urged Nigerians, political leaders, and civil society actors “to resist any temptation to undermine these efforts with misplaced criticism”.
“Now is the time for solidarity, support and constructive collaboration to eradicate terrorism and protect the lives of Nigerians,” Afenifere said.
