The US Christmas Day gift to Nigerian ‘Christians’

As millions of Nigerians and most of Africa were probably still deeply asleep, the United States conducted some deadly airstrikes over what President Trump, in a post, described as Islamic State cells in Northwest Nigeria. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth later made a post disclosing that the strikes were U.S.-Nigeria coordinated and conducted with the full consent and cooperation of the Nigerian government, thanking Nigeria for the success of this America-led military intervention.

The strikes may have come as a surprise to many, given the improved security situation since the appointment of General Chris Musa as the Minister of Defense, the seeming silence of the US government since the visit of a Nigerian delegation to the US last month, and because of the retreat of the terrorist groups and recovery of kidnapped persons in recent weeks. However, for some of us, intervention was anticipated. The release or “rescue” of these victims has not been accompanied by advertised arrests or killings of the bandits/terrorists, who abducted the victims in the first place.  

Furthermore, given Trump’s approach of serially threatening an action and going silent thereafter only to double down on it when no one thinks about it anymore, this strike in Nigeria should have been anticipated by the public. Moreover, bits and pieces of information shared through the rumor mills about the mapping of terrorist cells in Northern Nigeria by American security experts in the last few weeks, should have also informed us that the attacks were going to happen.

In addition, American fact-finding missions, including congressmen came into Nigeria and spent weeks going from one part of the country to the other, gathering data and having a clearer understanding of the situation on ground. This was not for nothing; it was a prelude to a major action. America doesn’t invest so much energy, time, and money in a commission of inquiry only to shelve the reports as we do in Nigeria. Something is going to happen.

The last signpost that should have alerted all that this incident would occur was Israeli Prime Minister’s state television broadcast declaring that the killing of Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere must stop. While not being a Christian but a Jewish state, and known for having significant anti-Christian sentiments leading to some violence against Israeli Christian communities itself, it’s also a known fact that where President Trump stands is where Prime Minister Netanyahu would always stand. His call earlier in the day during Christmas, was unusual, which was a signpost to what could happen anytime.

The coordinated strikes on the night of Christmas Day were “vicious, fast” and lethal. The estimate of damages in human and material terms can’t be immediately determined, but the “wi be, se be” (say it, do it) attitude of the Trump administration on this matter is a pointer to an American foreign policy that is actively pro-Christian even if actively non-pro-African. While some of us are strongly opposed to any unwanted foreign interference in African affairs, the fact that the Nigerian authorities allowed this legitimises the action as a necessary or desirable external intervention.

Except we want to be parsimonious with the truth or be obstinately impervious to reason because of our Pan-Africanist disposition (and I am a Pan-Africanist but with a neorealist school of thought leaning), we must admit that fifteen years after fighting terrorism unsuccessfully, Nigeria desperately needs help because of the many political hawks, ethnic chauvinists, and religious zealots, who have turned the terrorist problem destroying the country into a lucrative business, or a family (ethnic-religious) matter. Having a neutral party such as the United States intervene makes some sense. The Nigerian military is not a weak one, but it has had a weakened will and morale because of the politicization and misdirection it has suffered these past years.

As the collaboration continues, let the Nigerian government have a discerning mind and be strategic in what it cedes or compromises. Our sovereign integrity still counts and should never be wholly compromised for any reason. Let Nigeria remember that the U.S. is still a superpower whose national interests are still the primary goal in any international venture, particularly when driven by an “America First” agenda. Let Nigeria bear in mind that America seeks a return to West Africa after the AES shrank its influence a year ago.

However, any success of this military venture in Northern Nigeria may cascade into a far-reaching US activity in West Africa, with a significant influence and energization to decimate ISIS in the entire region, thereby turning to the Sahel- Mali and Burkina Faso, with or without the AES’ cooperation. The overarching aim to justify this would be neutralising the Islamic State and other terrorist elements in the region, whose unilateral approach is backed by international resolutions nowadays. The many lovers of Traore and the Sahel States will not like this, but it will happen. We shall keep our fingers crossed.

Prof. Folarin, a member of the Tribune editorial board, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for the Future of Knowledge, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He teaches politics at Texas State University, United States.

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