US wants you to crush terrorists, their backers, Laolu Akande tells Tinubu

Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has delivered a compelling message to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerian authorities, urging a firm and unwavering stance against terrorists and their supporters in the country. Speaking on the “My Take” segment of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Friday, he shared insights from his recent trip to […]

Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has delivered a compelling message to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerian authorities, urging a firm and unwavering stance against terrorists and their supporters in the country.

Speaking on the “My Take” segment of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Friday, he shared insights from his recent trip to the United States, where he witnessed critical discussions among American congressional leaders regarding the persistent security challenges in Nigeria.

“I have just returned from a trip to the United States where I witnessed the congressional hearing last Thursday held by the U.S. Subcommittee on Africa,” Akande revealed.

“The coverage afforded me the opportunity to interact face-to-face, physically with key U.S. congressional leaders and functionaries on their perspectives on the killings going on in our beloved country, Nigeria.”

Akande emphasized that the American government and the wider global community have taken a keen interest in Nigeria’s ongoing security crisis, influencing their recent diplomatic and policy approaches toward Nigeria. Highlighting President Tinubu’s recent declaration, he said.

“Now there are some critical things that the Americans and by extension the global community have observed and noted regarding the persistent killings in Nigeria, and these things influence how the Americans in the White House and the Congress, how they are acting regarding Nigeria recently. But first, we must acknowledge the recent declaration by Mr. President, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday when he said, and I quote, ‘In view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the armed forces.’ Now that is commendable and commendable on paper, hopefully commendable in action.”

Akande urged the Nigerian leadership to turn this declaration into tangible outcomes. He stressed that the emergency declaration “must afford, that is must deliver, is a commitment to crush the terrorists and crush their backers. If President Bola Tinubu does this for us as a country, his name will be etched in gold in the annals of our history forever.”

Drawing from his interactions in the U.S., Akande laid bare the critical perceptions held by American officials regarding Nigeria’s security situation:

“The Americans know that for a very long time, the authorities in Nigeria have not significantly gone after the perpetrators of terror and violence. Victims of killings don’t get justice, and the terrorists are emboldened and boastful about the evil and the havoc they are causing.”

“The Americans and by extension the global community also know that the Nigerian authorities are not unaware of the movement and the locations of the terrorists and the agents of extreme violence in their country. They know there are even well-publicised clear lines of communication between the terrorists and the people in government, both at the state and federal levels.”

Akande referenced Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, who has openly declared that the authorities know where terrorists are but have failed to act decisively:

“The Americans know this. For instance, the Americans and the international community are aware that the Zamfara state governor, Governor Dauda Lawal, is correct that if and when the Nigerian authorities want to demolish the terrorists, they know where they are and they know what to do. But the Nigerian authorities have so far not done so.”

He said further, “The Americans and the world have come to the conclusion that Nigerian authorities are more interested in negotiating with the terrorists and bandits rather than destroying them outright.”

Akande pointed to reports of military efforts allegedly being “altered” or compromised by political forces to allow terrorists to surrender instead of being eliminated, a situation that has frustrated American officials:

“They even said that they know the military chiefs who ran into problems with political appointees who preferred to give the terrorist kingpins an opportunity to surrender when the military could have dealt with them and neutralised them.”

Significantly, Akande disclosed that the Americans have knowledge of specific individuals allegedly supporting terrorists, a reality underscored by recent legislative moves in the U.S.:

“This is how this was captured in a new bill that is on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill was tabled earlier this month after President Donald Trump had designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern. I quote, ‘the resolution asks the U.S. State Department to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Treasury to impose targeted sanctions, visa bans, asset freezes, and other restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for egregious religious freedom violations in Nigeria.'”

Akande revealed that lists of names of suspected terrorist backers are being compiled, with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas reportedly threatening to make such names public once the Senate is in session.

Akande stressed the urgency and importance of President Tinubu’s leadership in changing Nigeria’s security narrative:

“In the end, the Americans and indeed the global community are worried, they are concerned that they haven’t seen enough political will demonstrated by Nigerian leaders regarding the killings so far. Which is why one must express delight that President Tinubu has declared that nationwide security emergency earlier this week. It is a welcome imperative. Mr. President, get on it, go all the way, change the narrative, demonstrate that the political will is there, and when you do it, you will discover.”