ABUJA – As Nigeria’s security crisis enters its fifteenth year with no decisive victory in sight, former Senator Shehu Sani has called for a pragmatic approach to foreign assistance, stating that the country should welcome help from global powers like the United States and China to combat terrorism and banditry.
Speaking exclusively with NewsFocus shortly after convening a one-day high-level security summit in Abuja on Friday, the prominent civil society leader emphasized that while ultimate responsibility for security rests with Nigeria, external support could prove crucial in turning the tide against persistent violence.
“When someone goes outside the family to seek help, it is because the problem can no longer be solved within the family,” Senator Sani stated, explaining the growing public inclination toward international intervention.
The summit, jointly hosted by the Africa Freedom Foundation (AFF) and Yari Roundtable, brought together policymakers, religious leaders, security experts, and civil society actors to address what participants described as a deteriorating security situation nationwide.
A Nation in Peril
Senator Sani painted a grim picture of the current reality: “Nigeria is 65 years old, and in these years we have survived storms, turbulence and strife. But today, we are confronted by gangs of terrorists and bandits who have made themselves invisible, killing our people, burning homes, kidnapping students, attacking churches and mosques.”
He particularly noted the irony that northern Nigeria remains the epicenter of violence even under administrations led by northerners, challenging the notion that regional leadership alone could solve the problem.
Foreign Help with Sovereignty Safeguards
While advocating for international assistance, Senator Sani stressed the importance of maintaining Nigerian control over security operations.
“If the U.S. or China want to help us, we welcome it with open arms,” he said. “If they know where these terrorists are, and can assist in ending this violence, we appreciate it.”
However, he added a crucial caveat: “They cannot know our country better than we do. Foreign nations must work with our security agencies so there is control, coordination and respect.”
Religious Leaders Echo Urgent Concerns
The summit featured passionate appeals from both Christian and Muslim leaders, who united in their condemnation of the ongoing bloodshed.
Archbishop Dr. James Malgit of the Plateau Diocese decried what he termed a “season of national mourning without end,” while Chief Imam Mal. Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf of Kaduna State Polytechnic warned that kidnappings in northern Nigeria are rising at an alarming rate.
Both religious representatives emphasized the need for strict monitoring of security funds, noting that any financial leakages would come at the cost of human lives.
Governance Failures at Core of Crisis
Senator Sani identified governance failures, poverty, and the state’s inability to enforce the rule of law as the root causes of insecurity, rather than religious tensions.
“For fifteen years, government after government has failed to secure the lives of our people,” he lamented. “Hundreds of billions of our own taxpayers’ money, and millions of dollars in foreign support, have been poured into defense and security, but the problem persists.”
He delivered a blunt assessment of governmental responsibility: “If you cannot protect the lives of the people, you have no reason to be in office.”
Path Forward: Dialogue and Accountability
The former lawmaker urged Nigerian leaders to shed arrogance and embrace inclusive dialogue, stating that “being in government does not mean you have the monopoly of knowledge.”
He called for transparency in security spending, accountability from leadership, and a renewed commitment to national dialogue as essential components of any sustainable solution.
Senator Sani’s final remarks underscored the human tragedy behind the security statistics: “Every day, Muslims are killed in Katsina, Christians are killed in Benue. Muslims die in Zamfara, Christians in Plateau. We bury people every day. What are we talking about? This is a matter of life and death.”
