Nigeria’s Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy, Sunday Dare, has emphasised that the country cannot defeat terrorism in isolation, calling for strengthened international cooperation—particularly with the United States—amid heightened security concerns.
Dare’s remarks follow the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, an incident that has once again drawn global attention to Nigeria’s prolonged battle against insurgency and armed extremism.
In a Wednesday post on X (formerly Twitter), Dare stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges require a collective global response. “Nigeria does not pretend it can win this war alone, nor should it have to,” he stated.
He praised the longstanding security partnership between Nigeria and the United States, noting that American assistance had been pivotal at critical points in the country’s counter-terrorism efforts. “The strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States has been invaluable,” Dare wrote.
He recalled that during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency—particularly after the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls—US special forces provided essential training to Nigerian naval units. Similar cooperation has continued during the current efforts to secure the release of the abducted Maga schoolgirls.
“Today, training, intelligence cooperation, and joint exercises continue. However, they are not enough to match the scale of the threat,” Dare added, urging Nigeria’s allies to bolster their support.
The adviser’s comments come at a time when the international community is increasingly scrutinising Nigeria’s handling of insecurity. In late October, former US President Donald Trump labelled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious freedom violations, claiming that extremist violence posed an “existential threat” to Christianity. He warned that the US could suspend aid or take “fast, vicious” military action should Nigeria fail to address the crisis.
President Bola Tinubu rejected Trump’s characterisation as “misleading and simplistic”, insisting that violence in the north-central and north-western regions stems from a complex mix of herder–farmer clashes, banditry, and extremist attacks affecting both Muslims and Christians. He nonetheless welcomed constructive international cooperation that respects Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Dare’s call reinforces the government’s stance that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism must remain a shared global responsibility, supported by robust partnerships and sustained diplomatic engagement.
