The bilateral strike on terrorists’ hideouts in Sokoto State last Thursday has been described as a bold and courteous step to stamp out extremism in Nigeria.
In a statement issued at the weekend, the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), a coalition of 130 Pan-Yoruba groups, said the joint strike between Nigeria and the United States represented a present and consistent threat to Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria. The statement was signed by the General Secretary, Popoola Ajayi, and Rasaq Arogundade.
AYDM called for the arrest of Sheik Gumi, whom the group described as the alleged leader of the terrorists’ intellectual wing.
“Sheik Gumi should be arrested. He is a terrorist masquerading as an Islamic scholar. We are going to mount local and international campaign to ensure his arrest and prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC).’’
The group warned governors in the South-West to prepare for terrorist operations and possible attacks on the region, saying the terrorists would seek to fight back by targeting the home base of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as foreign economic interests.
AYDM said the United States and Nigeria should carry out more strikes to defeat terrorism in the country. It added that the growing spate of Islamic extremism reflected what it described as a violent clash of civilisation in Nigeria, urging President Tinubu and the National Assembly to decentralise the country for ethnic self-determination.
“We welcome the attacks on terrorists that are determined to take over Nigerian space. The attack has shown that Nigeria is building effective partnership across the world to reclaim the lost sovereignty of the country. The attacks are not enough. It is time to restructure Nigeria so that those who believe in a theocratic state and those who cherish democracy should have their own sovereign republics.”
AYDM said no country could successfully fight terrorism alone without intelligence sharing and joint operations with allies.
It further stated that terrorism in Nigeria had become a tool for political bargaining.
“Terrorists and their sponsors are blackmailing Nigeria to submit power to them or risk widespread violence,” the group said.
The statement alleged that the terrorists had ideological camps made up of rich and influential Fulani individuals who supported violence to make Nigeria ungovernable, with the aim of paving the way for a military coup or a complete takeover of the political economy.
“We are dealing with sponsors of terrorists, who do not believe in power sharing. They want the whole country to be at their mercy.’’
AYDM said with the involvement of the United States in counter-terrorism operations in Nigeria, the days of the terrorists were numbered.
It also urged President Tinubu to expand the frontiers of support to Russia and Israel.
“Nigeria needs as many countries as possible, as friends that are necessary to defeat terrorism. The Nigerian authority should also seek collaboration with Russia and Israel; some of the few countries that give unconditional support to Africa’s strive for freedom.
“We wish to see the Nigerian anti-terrorism framework extended to Russia, given the progressive role of the country in counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel. Nigeria needs to work with Russia and others to be able to effectively fight terrorism,” AYDM said.
The statement was issued against the backdrop of ongoing national debates on security and counter-terrorism, including recent reports on military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements, reactions to United States airstrikes in Nigeria, and broader discussions on Nigeria’s economic and governance trajectory.
