In a significant development following a major counter-terrorism operation, a prominent Nigerian senator has called for an expansion of international military support to tackle persistent insecurity. Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has publicly urged the federal government to extend its ongoing joint military cooperation with the United States to the volatile North-East region.
A Call for Expanded Military Cooperation
The outspoken lawmaker and former Senate Leader made this pressing appeal on Saturday, December 27, 2025. His statement came as a show of strong support for the recent precision airstrike conducted against a cell of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Ndume emphasized that terrorist groups continue to pose severe and consistent threats to the stability of the North-East, justifying the need for enhanced foreign military partnership in the area.
Backing the Sokoto Airstrike and Looking Ahead
While commending the successful joint operation in Sokoto, Senator Ndume pointed out that similar decisive action is desperately needed in his own region. The North-East, particularly Borno State which he represents, has been the epicenter of a long-standing insurgency led by groups like Boko Haram and its splinter factions, including ISIS-West Africa Province (ISWAP). His call underscores a strategic push for the federal government to leverage the existing cooperation with the United States to directly address the entrenched security challenges in the North-East.
The Implication for Regional Security
This appeal highlights a critical perspective on Nigeria's security strategy. It suggests a belief among key political figures that international collaboration, particularly with advanced military capabilities like those of the US, is vital to degrading terrorist networks. The mention of a specific "next place" for action shifts the national security discourse, focusing attention on the North-East's unresolved crisis even as success is celebrated elsewhere. The move signals a demand for equitable and comprehensive security interventions across all troubled regions in Northern Nigeria.
Senator Ndume's position reflects the ongoing anxiety and urgency felt by communities and leaders in areas most affected by terrorism. His call to action places additional focus on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to deepen defense ties and ensure that counter-terrorism gains are replicated nationwide, especially in the region that has borne the brunt of the conflict for over a decade.
