A former governor of Bayelsa State and serving senator, Seriake Dickson, has described the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the threat of military invasion by US President Donald Trump as a wake-up call for Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 6, Dickson said while Nigeria’s sovereignty and national institutions must be respected, he is in full support of any partnership aimed at ending the “murderous bands of terrorists who have wantonly slaughtered thousands of our countrymen and women — Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths alike.”
He noted that for almost 15 years, Islamic terrorist groups have continued to wreak unimaginable havoc on Nigeria and its people in the Northern region.
Also stating that terrorists have continued to migrate to other regions with their deadly attacks, the former governor said school children, worshippers and many more people have borne the brunt of these killings that are sometimes accompanied with kidnappings.
Dickson while citing the incidents of the abducted Chibok girls, the Dapchi girls, and Buni Yadi school children, said it is worrisome that several victims of these terrorist attacks, like Leah Sharibu remain missing.
“This is a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and should not be tolerated any further. 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.
“At the Senate, my colleagues and I have repeatedly raised these issues, even beyond the floor of the Senate. Hardly a week passes without a member of the Senate drawing attention to reports of killings and attacks on villages in one constituency or the other.
“The Senate has paid countless tributes in memory of those killed, as well as several suggestions and proposals to the Executive, including the proposal for a National Security Summit to be held soon. Most recently, the Senate took a motion and directed its leadership to interface with the President to dispatch a non-partisan team of experts and statesmen to Washington D.C,” Dickson noted.
Continuing, the Bayelsa lawmaker said the coordinated massacres of innocent citizens by marauding terrorists and bandits, coupled with the displacement of Indigenous communities, have been going on for many years.
He added that so far, the efforts adopted by the Nigerian government and security agencies have clearly not been effective in tackling the menace while the inability of successive administrations to prevent, arrest, or decisively punish perpetrators created room for several conspiracy theories.
According to him, this included the complicity witnessed under the administration of late Muhammadu Buhari, who despite the concerns raised by a former Chief of Army Staff, General T. Y. Danjuma, remained adamant about the mayhem caused by the criminals.
“Late President Buhari’s policy of appointing mostly Muslims to head all the security services during his eight years in office further worsened these perceptions.
“As Nigerians, we must be honest with ourselves that 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. We must therefore work with our allies and partners to defeat this menace once and for all,” he added.
He further advised President Bola Tinubu to seek ways the Nigerian government can collaborate with the US and other international allies – including border countries – to eradicate the terrorists.
In addition, Dickson called for the immediate appointment of ambassadors to enable the Nigerian government to maximise its diplomatic resources and options.
