Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to collaborate with the United States and other international allies to decisively defeat terrorist groups operating in Nigeria.
In a strongly worded statement, Senator Dickson said Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, but emphasized that the fight against terrorism requires urgent global cooperation. He described the persistent attacks by jihadist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS, and al-Qaeda affiliates as a national tragedy that has claimed thousands of lives across religious and regional lines.
“For almost 15 years, these murderous bands have unleashed unimaginable havoc on our people — Christians, Muslims, and others alike,” he said. “They have introduced suicide bombing into our country, targeted schools, abducted children, and terrorized both rural and urban communities.”
The Senator decried the continued existence of terrorist enclaves in parts of Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina States, where insurgents reportedly control territories, impose taxes, and operate outside Nigerian laws. He described this situation as “a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty,” urging the federal government to act decisively.
Senator Dickson also referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments on Nigeria’s insecurity, describing them as “a wake-up call.” He maintained that if Nigeria cannot contain terrorism alone, it must work closely with partners who have the capacity and technology to help.
At the Senate, Dickson noted, lawmakers have persistently drawn attention to the rising wave of killings and insecurity, leading to several motions, tributes, and proposals — including the call for a **National Security Summit** and a bipartisan delegation to Washington D.C.
He lamented that terrorism and banditry have now spread beyond the North-East to previously safe regions such as Sokoto, Taraba, Niger, and Kwara States, as well as the Middle Belt and parts of Southern Kaduna, where massacres and displacement of communities have continued unchecked.
According to Dickson, the failure of successive administrations to prosecute or deter perpetrators has fueled conspiracy theories about government complicity, particularly during the Buhari era. He noted that former Defence Minister General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd) once raised similar concerns over insecurity in Taraba State.
“The killings have gone on for too long, and it is clear that our security forces are overwhelmed,” he said. “No nation can confront terrorism in isolation. We must seek help and collaborate with our allies and neighbors to end this scourge.”
The Senator, who also serves as **Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations**, urged President Tinubu to immediately fill ambassadorial vacancies to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement and enhance international cooperation against terrorism.
“May God help Nigeria,” he concluded.
