Senator Seriake Dickson has called on President Bola Tinubu to work closely with U.S. President Donald Trump, the United States Government, and Nigeria’s international allies to decisively eliminate terrorist groups that have ravaged the country for more than a decade.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the former Governor of Bayelsa State and current Senator representing Bayelsa West said that while Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected, the persistent wave of terrorism and mass killings demanded a collaborative global response.
According to him, “Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and institutions must always be respected.
”However, I fully support any collaborative effort aimed at eliminating the murderous bands of terrorists who have slaughtered thousands of our citizen, Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths alike,” he said.
Senator Dickson painted a grim picture of the country’s ongoing battle against terrorism, noting that jihadist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS, al-Qaeda affiliates, and emerging factions like Lakurawa and Wulowulo have inflicted unimaginable suffering on Nigerians for nearly fifteen years.
Dickson further recounted how the insurgency, which began in Borno State, introduced suicide bombings and gradually spread across the North-East and other parts of the country.
His words: “Places of worship, churches, mosques, palaces, and even schools have not been spared.
”Schoolchildren have been kidnapped, killed, or forcibly married off.
”The victims of these jihadist attacks, from Borno to Zamfara, have been both Muslims and Christians,” he said.
The senator lamented that the whereabouts of several abducted schoolchildren, including Leah Sharibu and some of the Chibok girls, remain unknown years after their abduction.
He added that the terrorists continue to occupy territories in parts of Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina States, where they imposed taxes and operate outside the authority of the Nigerian Constitution.
“This is a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and should no longer be tolerated. President Trump’s statement is a wake-up call to action,” Dickson stated.
Dickson also explained that the National Assembly has consistently raised alarm over the worsening insecurity, with senators frequently drawing attention to fresh killings and village attacks across their constituencies.
He said the Senate had paid tributes to victims, proposed security reforms, and even called for a National Security Summit.
According to him, the most recent Senate resolution mandates the leadership to engage President Tinubu and consider sending a non-partisan delegation to Washington D.C. for security discussions.
The lawmaker noted that terrorism and banditry, once concentrated in the Northeast, have now spread across the country.
“States like Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, Katsina, Niger, and even Kwara have been hit.
”In Benue, Plateau, and Southern Kaduna, coordinated massacres and mass displacement of indigenous communities have gone on for years,” he said.
He decried what he described as the failure of successive governments to decisively prevent or punish perpetrators of these atrocities, arguing that the inaction has bred conspiracy theories of official complicity.
Dickson referenced a past statement by former Chief of Army Staff and Defence Minister, General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd.), who accused the Buhari administration of tolerating killings in his home state, Taraba.
“Late President Buhari’s decision to appoint mostly Muslims as heads of security agencies for eight years worsened the perception of bias and inaction,” he added.
The senator stressed that Nigeria could no longer tackle terrorism alone, insisting that international cooperation is vital for success.
“As Nigerians, we must admit that the killings have gone on for far too long. Our security forces have been overwhelmed.
”No nation can fight terrorism in isolation. We must therefore partner with our allies to defeat this menace once and for all,” he said.
Dickson also urged the Federal Government to urgently address Nigeria’s weakened foreign relations, particularly the prolonged absence of appointed ambassadors.
“As Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, I have repeatedly raised the issue of vacant ambassadorial posts for over two years.
”This anomaly must be corrected immediately to enable Nigeria to maximise its diplomatic influence and options,” he said.
The senator appealed for unity and divine guidance in the fight against insecurity.
“May God help Nigeria,” he prayed.
