Former Sokoto State Governor and Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has provided a key clarification on the recent US-Nigeria airstrike, stating that the operation was specifically targeted at the **Lakurawa terrorist group** and not any religious or civilian community. This comes amid intense debate and speculation surrounding the Christmas Day military action.
In an interview on ARISE News Channel, Tambuwal, who currently represents Sokoto South in the Senate, revealed that security briefings indicated the strike hit a terrorist enclave in the Tangeza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. He drew on his gubernatorial experience, noting that the Lakurawa group had been a known threat in the Tangeza, Gudu, and Binji areas, previously tackled through joint security operations.
A Call for Unity Against a Common Threat
Senator Tambuwal issued a strong warning against framing the counter-terrorism operation as a religious or ethnic conflict. "This is not a religious war. It is not an ethnic war. It is about securing the lives and property of Nigerians," he stated. He emphasized that terrorism is a universal threat, asserting that "terrorists are nobody’s friends," and urged the public to avoid divisive narratives that could fracture national unity.
On Foreign Cooperation and Strategic Caution
Addressing calls from figures like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi to end military cooperation with the United States, Tambuwal acknowledged the diversity of opinions in a democracy. He argued that Nigeria should accept genuine international support to combat terrorism, provided it comes "without any undertone." However, he also advocated for strategic caution, referencing the "mixed outcomes" of similar US-led interventions globally. "If history is anything to go by, we must be circumspect," he noted, stressing the importance of ensuring no hidden agendas compromise Nigeria's sovereignty.
Advocating for Expanded, Balanced Action
To prevent the perception that Sokoto State was being unfairly singled out, Tambuwal called for any future international security collaboration to be extended to other terrorism-prone states like Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna. He framed terrorism as a transnational Sahelian crisis, affecting Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which necessitates coordinated regional and global responses.
In his concluding remarks, Tambuwal appealed for calm among Sokoto residents, assuring them that the operation was precisely targeted at criminal elements and that the protection of civilian life remains paramount. He commended the professionalism of both Nigerian security forces and their international partners in the operation.
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