ABUJA, December 27, 2025 – A prominent northern Christian body has thrown its weight behind reported United States military intervention in Nigeria, breaking ranks with critics to declare that the nation urgently needs all available external support to defeat worsening terrorism.
In a strong statement, Elder Sunday Oibe, Chairman of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), faulted growing public opposition to foreign military involvement, framing the country’s security situation as an “existential crisis” demanding collaborative action.
“Nigeria Needs Help to Curb This Madness”
Elder Oibe’s remarks come amid intense national debate following reports of U.S. airstrikes targeting terrorist camps in Sokoto State on Christmas Day. While some quarters have raised sovereignty concerns, NOSCEF has taken a pragmatic stance focused on results.
“There’s no gain saying that Nigeria needs help to curb this madness of insurgency, kidnapping and terrorism troubling the soul of this nation,” Elder Oibe stated. He emphasized that any assistance aimed at restoring peace should be welcomed, provided the Nigerian government is fully aware and involved in the process.
“In whatever way this help comes, as long as the Nigerian government is in the know, it is a welcome development,” he asserted. “Nigerians have been bleeding for far too long because of the activities of these criminal bandits, whom I prefer to call enemies of humanity.”
Aligning with Babangida’s “No Negotiation” Stance
The NOSCEF chairman aligned his position with that of former military leader General Ibrahim Babangida, who recently called for a decisive, uncompromising approach to terrorism.
“I agree completely with the position of former leader, General Babangida, that government must root out this evil without negotiation,” Elder Oibe said, underscoring the forum’s support for robust military action over dialogue with terrorist groups.
Questioning Critics of Foreign Intervention
Reacting to arguments against foreign military involvement, Elder Oibe questioned the logic of opposing efforts to eliminate terror groups that continue to kill innocent citizens. He referenced the recent bombing of a mosque in Maiduguri as evidence of the persistent threat.
“Why should any sane mind be against rooting out these criminals by whatever means necessary?” he asked. “Whether it is American, Indian, or Togolese support that will help Nigeria uproot this evil, it should be welcomed. Nigerians simply want to live freely and go about their daily activities without fear of attack.”
Security Crisis Transcends Geopolitical Concerns
The elder’s remarks highlight a deepening divide in Nigeria’s security discourse, where immediate safety concerns for many citizens outweigh longer-term geopolitical considerations about sovereignty.
Elder Oibe insisted that the immediate priority must be the safety of Nigerian lives, stressing that insecurity has already cost the nation too much in blood and economic progress.
The NOSCEF endorsement adds significant moral weight to arguments for international security cooperation, particularly coming from a group representing Christian communities in Nigeria’s most conflict-affected regions. It signals that for many directly impacted by terrorism, the source of salvation matters less than the reality of deliverance from violence.
As debates continue about the appropriate boundaries of foreign military involvement, voices like NOSCEF’s underscore the desperate reality on the ground where theoretical sovereignty concerns compete with daily survival imperatives.
