By Editorial Staff 
After U.S. President Donald Trump on November 2, 2025, vowed to send “guns-a-blazing” to clear out terrorists across Nigeria, he referred to the “Giant of Africa” as “that disgraced country.” Even though some of us are not comfortable with such a humiliating remark, we remain speechless because our leaders have dehumanised us even more. Now, we are beginning to see the effects on most of the security agencies.
For the first time, yes, for the first time in the history of arrests made by Nigeria’s “secret” police, we are seeing them come out to give an account and provide updates on terrorists who were arrested and are being prosecuted by the government. That has not happened in years. The secrecy surrounding the trial of terrorists and killers had made many Nigerians, and even outsiders, including Trump, form the opinion that the government is complicit.
For instance, there have been several editorials, opinions, and calls on the government to name, shame, arrest, and prosecute terrorists and their sponsors. The public has also demanded accelerated hearings in such cases, but the government turned deaf ears. In some cases, we even hear that terrorists in custody escaped during jailbreaks. It happened in July 2022, during Kuje jailbreak; it occurred in recent jailbreak in Borno State. You can then see the seriousness, or lack of it, of a government that claims to want to end terrorism and insecurity.
In contrast, far away in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – a country even more Islamic than Nigeria – authorities arrested some terrorism financiers. It didn’t take the UAE up to 12 months to send six of them to jail for transferring $782,000 to Boko Haram in Nigeria. That’s how to make people, both locally and internationally, trust your sincerity. Not when you hide the identity of Boko Haram sponsors; not when you camp them in the name of “repentance” and feed them. Once a terrorist, always a terrorist, regardless of the so-called de-radicalisation efforts.
Sometimes, it amuses me when I see Nigeria’s leaders calling on the U.K., France, and the U.S. to come to their aid in ending insecurity, even when they have access to intelligence but choose to play politics. Then, when things fall apart, they turn to superpowers to solve problems they could fix if they mustered the political will. No doubt, countries collaborate on security and counterterrorism, but not when those you call for help can see that you are not serious.
Meanwhile, we have also seen Nigeria’s stocks tumble, investors shiver, and prospective investors hold their money close to their chest.
The toothless Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), for the first time in months, also issued a statement against terrorist groups. That, to me, sounds like a dummy roaring lion.
Even though the overstretched Nigerian troops have made commendable victories against terror groups across the country, we have witnessed more swift and coordinated killings of terrorists in the last 72 hours. Some people call it “Trump effect”. That’s indeed commendable.
They should keep the morale high. They don’t have to wait for Trump’s next humiliating comments before taking action. Let’s be clear: terrorists don’t ask for religion before carrying out their devilish acts.
I wasn’t surprised when China issued a statement in support of Nigeria’s sovereignty. We all know why and where their interests lie. But our former coloniser has not spoken, and I would love to see where they stand.
One final thing: President Bola Tinubu will be at the G20 Summit later this month. The Summit should not be a platform for the same old, boring rhetoric.
Opeyemi Quadri