Human rights activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has publicly defended recent United States air operations targeting terrorist elements in northern Nigeria, questioning the outrage that followed the strike and urging deeper security cooperation between Abuja and Washington.
Adeyanju, reacting to the reported US strike on suspected Islamic State-linked fighters in Sokoto State, took aim at Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, whose comments on the operation sparked widespread debate across social media.
In a post published on X on December 28, Adeyanju challenged Gumi’s reaction, suggesting that public sympathy appeared misplaced if, as claimed in some quarters, the operation did not result in terrorist casualties.
He argued that concern should instead be directed at communities repeatedly attacked by armed groups.
“If truly no terrorist was killed, then there should be relief, not outrage,” Adeyanju said.
“The constant emotional defence of violent actors raises serious questions, especially when innocent Nigerians continue to suffer daily.”
Moreover, the activist described armed groups operating in the North-West and parts of the North-Central as “barbaric terrorists,” stressing that their activities have destabilised rural communities, displaced thousands, and overstretched Nigeria’s security architecture.
Adeyanju further called for sustained international collaboration, insisting that Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts would benefit from intelligence-sharing, precision strikes, and strategic support from allies such as the United States.
“We need more coordinated action, not sentimentality,” he said. “Terrorism is a global threat, and defeating it requires global partnerships.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh Gumi had earlier criticised foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s internal security challenges, a position that has consistently drawn mixed reactions, particularly from victims of banditry and terrorism.
However, security analysts note that the renewed debate highlights broader tensions around counterterrorism strategy, civilian protection, and the role of international actors in Nigeria’s fight against insurgency.
As discussions continue, the federal government has yet to issue a detailed public statement clarifying the extent of US involvement in the Sokoto operation or responding directly to the concerns raised by both critics and supporters of the strike.