Tambuwal Urges Federal Government to Broaden Anti-Terrorism Airstrikes Beyond Sokoto, Calls for Wider International Collaboration

Former Sokoto State governor and senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has called on the Federal Government to expand its ongoing anti-terrorism operations beyond Sokoto State, warning against a narrow, location-specific approach to a security crisis that has spread across large parts of Nigeria. Tambuwal made the call following reports of recent airstrikes carried out against terrorist elements in the North-West.

The renewed debate over Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy gained momentum after former United States President Donald Trump announced what he described as “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against terrorists operating in the North-West region of Nigeria. Shortly after the announcement, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that the air operations were conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also acknowledged that the Federal Government collaborated with the United States in targeting ISIS-linked elements operating in Sokoto State.

Reacting to the development during an interview on Arise Television, Tambuwal welcomed international cooperation in tackling terrorism but stressed that such efforts must not be limited to a single state or region. According to him, the security threats facing Nigeria are widespread, interconnected, and constantly shifting, making it ineffective to focus attention solely on Sokoto.

Tambuwal noted that while Sokoto has recently drawn attention due to heightened terrorist activity, other states continue to experience severe insecurity that deserves equal urgency. He specifically mentioned Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and other parts of the country that have endured years of insurgency, banditry, and violent extremism.

“Areas of concern like Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and several other parts of the country should be covered by this operation,” Tambuwal said. “We must avoid a situation where a particular part of the country becomes the sole focus simply because it is trending in the news, while other regions facing equally grave security challenges are overlooked.”

The senator emphasized that terrorism in Nigeria is not an isolated or purely domestic problem but part of a broader regional crisis affecting the Sahel. According to him, extremist groups operate across porous borders stretching from Mali to Burkina Faso, Niger, and other neighboring countries, exploiting weak governance structures and economic hardship.

In this context, Tambuwal argued that Nigeria should deepen its engagement with international partners willing to assist in combating terrorism. He said collaboration with the United States and other allied nations should be strengthened, noting that intelligence sharing, surveillance capabilities, and technical support are critical in dismantling transnational terror networks.

“This is not just Nigeria’s problem,” he said. “It is a transnational issue affecting the entire Sahel region. No single country can tackle this challenge alone, which is why broader cooperation is essential.”

The comments come amid mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some welcoming foreign military support as a necessary intervention in a prolonged security crisis, while others express skepticism about the effectiveness, transparency, and long-term implications of foreign involvement. Critics have questioned the absence of detailed public information on the outcomes of the strikes, including casualty figures and verifiable evidence, while supporters argue that sensitive security operations cannot always be disclosed in full.

Tambuwal did not directly address the criticisms surrounding the airstrikes but focused instead on the need for a comprehensive and inclusive national security strategy. He warned that selective enforcement or limited operations could simply displace terrorists from one area to another rather than eliminate the threat entirely.

Security analysts note that Nigeria has long struggled with balancing domestic military operations and foreign assistance, often facing public distrust fueled by years of unresolved insecurity. However, proponents of expanded collaboration argue that modern counterterrorism efforts require advanced technology, intelligence coordination, and regional partnerships that Nigeria cannot sustain alone.

As the Federal Government continues its fight against terrorism, Tambuwal’s call underscores a broader concern shared by many Nigerians: that security interventions must be nationwide, coordinated, and sustained, rather than reactive or confined to isolated hotspots. Whether the government will heed this call and expand operations remains to be seen, but the debate highlights the urgency of addressing insecurity as a national and regional emergency rather than a localized crisis.