Terrorism in Nigeria Needs Tact, Not War – Afenifere

…The group says terrorists mingle with civilians, conventional war won’t work.

…Urges better intelligence, sincerity, and cooperation between Nigeria, communities and allies

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has warned that a conventional military approach is ill-suited to Nigeria’s complex terrorism problem and urged cooperation, intelligence-led operations and diplomatic engagement rather than broad foreign air campaigns.

In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Comrade Jare Ajayi, the group said terrorists in Nigeria are often indistinguishable from civilians because they “mingle with the people who would later become victims,” making traditional warfare tactics, which rely on identifiable enemy positions ineffective.

“As such, the approach to defeating terrorists in Nigeria requires tact, hard-track intelligence, diligence, commitment and sincerity on the part of those deployed to fight them,” Ajayi said. He added that Afenifere issued a second statement on the subject because of the speed with which the United States, under President Donald Trump, has been reported to be considering military options in Nigeria.

Citing a November 5 report in The New York Times, Ajayi noted that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) had drawn up three possible responses: a “heavy” option involving fighter jets or long-range bombers targeting militant strongholds in northern Nigeria; a “medium” option that would use MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1 Predator drones supported by U.S. intelligence for targeted strikes against insurgent camps, convoys and vehicles; and a “light” option focused on intelligence sharing, logistics support and joint operations with Nigerian forces.

President Trump has reportedly described Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” and vowed to act in defence of Christians he says face persecution. “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening,” the statement quoted the president as saying.

Nigerian authorities and other observers have consistently denied that the federal government persecutes adherents of any faith. Nevertheless, Ajayi said the prospect of U.S. military involvement — particularly a full-scale campaign comparable to interventions in Iraq or Afghanistan — was alarming.

“Going by the aftermath of U.S. interventions in those countries, only the enemies of Nigeria would wish for a similar thing to happen to her,” the Afenifere statement said. The group listed countries it said had suffered undesirable consequences following major foreign campaigns, including Vietnam, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

Instead of large-scale foreign military operations, Afenifere recommended intelligence and information sharing, training in modern surveillance techniques and, where necessary, limited airstrikes or drone strikes as described in the report’s “light” option. The group said such a path, pursued with “sincerity of purpose,” would better achieve the objective of routing out terrorists while minimising civilian harm.

Ajayi invoked the comments of U.S. Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson, who, the statement said, argued that “the answer to the Nigeria terrorism situation is not American bombs or boots” and that stabilization requires education, clean water and opportunity rather than missiles. “The U.S. has to work with the Nigerian government to eliminate Boko Haram and any terrorism or criminal groups,” Ajayi quoted.

Afenifere urged Washington and Abuja to prioritise a diplomacy-first approach that emphasises peacebuilding, humanitarian aid and regional partnerships over unilateral intervention. “The path to Nigeria must come through dialogue, development, and dignity — not domination. America should be a partner in healing, not a hammer looking for a nail,” the organisation said.

The group also cautioned those who support U.S. strikes to “think twice,” warning that bombs “hardly discriminate between the guilty and the innocents, especially when they are in the same spot.” Afenifere urged intensified intelligence gathering to identify specific targets and minimise collateral damage.

While stressing that Christians and members of other faiths must be protected, the organisation called for a “total war” on terrorists who seek control of resources and land under the guise of religious conflict. It also appealed to community elders in affected regions to increase local efforts to curb violence and assist security operations.

The Afenifere statement did not outline any new operational proposals but reiterated its long-standing call for sovereignty-based strategic cooperation, accountability for terrorist sponsors, and protection of law-abiding citizens regardless of faith.