Collaborate with the US and other allies to defeat murderous terrorists in Nigeria – Senator Dickson Charges FG
Abuja — Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West and former Governor of Bayelsa State, has called on the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States and other international allies to combat the persistent threat of terrorism across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday the senator emphasized that while Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain sacrosanct, the country cannot continue to fight terrorism in isolation. He said joint international efforts were urgently needed to eliminate terrorist groups responsible for years of violence and mass killings.
“Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national institutions must be respected by all. At the same time, I fully support any collaborative action aimed at eradicating the murderous bands of terrorists who have wantonly slaughtered thousands of our countrymen and women — Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths alike,” Dickson said.
He described the prolonged reign of terror by jihadist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and newer groups like Lakurawa and Wulowulo, which have wreaked havoc for nearly 15 years, introducing suicide bombings and mass abductions across Nigeria’s northeast.
According to the senator, these terrorists have targeted churches, mosques, traditional rulers, and schools — citing the kidnappings of the Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls, and the continued captivity of Leah Sharibu and several others.
“These terrorist groups still maintain footholds and control territories within Nigeria. In states such as Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina, they impose taxes on locals and exercise authority by their own rules, not by the laws of the Nigerian state,” he noted.
Dickson said the situation amounts to a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and must not be tolerated any longer. He referenced recent remarks of the US President Donald Trump, who described the killings in Nigeria as persecution of Christians and threatened possible American intervention.
“President Trump’s statement is a wake-up call to action. If the Nigerian government is unable to address this issue effectively, then it must collaborate with those who can help us flush out these terrorists,” he stated.
He revealed that members of the National Assembly have consistently raised concerns about the escalating insecurity, with motions and debates calling for stronger government action and proposing a National Security Summit. The Senate, he said, had even directed its leadership to interface with the Presidency and send a team of experts to Washington D.C. to discuss international cooperation.
Senator Dickson lamented that terrorism and banditry, once confined to the northeast, have now spread to Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, Katsina, Niger, and Kwara States, as well as the Middle Belt and Southern Kaduna, where entire communities have been displaced.
He also blamed past administrations for failing to act decisively against terrorists, which he said fueled public distrust and conspiracy theories about government complicity.
“The killings have gone on for too long and government and security forces have been overwhelmed. We need help! No nation can confront terrorism in isolation,” he said.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ecology & Climate Change, Senator Dickson further urged the Federal Government to appoint ambassadors to key countries, stressing that the absence of envoys for more than two years had weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic leverage.
“This anomaly should be corrected immediately to enable our country maximise its diplomatic resources and options,” he added.
Senator Dickson concluded by urging President Tinubu to collaborate closely with President Trump, the US Government, and Nigeria’s neighbouring countries to eradicate terrorism once and for all.
“We must work with our allies and partners to defeat this menace.
May God help Nigeria,” he prayed.
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