Nigeria unable to account for Leah Sharibu, others- Senator Dickson endorses Trump’s threat

Senator Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Bayelsa State, has backed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments on the mass killings and insecurity in Nigeria, describing the remarks as “a necessary wake-up call” for the Nigerian government.

In a statement titled “Alleged Genocide: My Stance on President Trump’s Statement,” issued on Thursday, Dickson said Nigeria must balance the defense of its sovereignty with meaningful international cooperation to end the persistent wave of terrorist violence across the country.

“Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national institutions must be respected by all,” he said.

“At the same time, I fully support any global collaborative effort aimed at eradicating the murderous terrorist groups that have slaughtered thousands of Nigerians, Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths alike.”

The Bayelsa West senator pointed out how terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS, and al-Qaeda have, for nearly 15 years, inflicted “unimaginable devastation” on communities across northern Nigeria.

“They introduced suicide bombings and began a campaign of mass murder, particularly in Borno State, which later spread throughout the northeast,” Dickson said.

He lamented that both Christians and Muslims have suffered heavily, with countless villages razed and religious centers destroyed.

“Places of worship, both churches and mosques, have been targeted. Traditional rulers have been killed, and schoolchildren kidnapped, murdered, or forcefully married off,” he stated.

“To this day, Nigeria has not fully accounted for the whereabouts of many of the abducted students, including Leah Sharibu and several of the Chibok schoolgirls.”

According to the senator, terrorist groups continue to hold territories in Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina States, where they impose illegal taxes and operate outside the authority of the Nigerian state.

“This situation is a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and should not be tolerated any longer. President Trump’s statement should be seen as a call to action, not an attack on Nigeria,” Dickson added.

He noted that the Nigerian Senate has repeatedly raised alarms over the deteriorating security situation, saying that “hardly a week passes without reports of killings and attacks on villages from one constituency or another.”

The Senate, he revealed, has proposed a National Security Summit and urged engagement with the presidency to dispatch a “non-partisan delegation of experts and statesmen to Washington, D.C.” for strategic dialogue.

Dickson also criticised what he described as “policy failures” and “institutional imbalance” during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that lopsided security appointments deepened public mistrust.

“The former president’s decision to appoint mostly Muslims to lead all the security agencies worsened perceptions of bias and eroded public confidence,” he said.

The senator urged President Bola Tinubu to embrace stronger collaboration with the United States and other allies in the global fight against terrorism.

“We need help. No nation can tackle terrorism alone,” he stressed. “President Tinubu should work closely with President Trump, the U.S. government, and other friendly nations to eliminate these terrorist networks.”

Dickson further called for the expeditious appointment of ambassadors to bolster Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and enhance international cooperation.

“Nigeria’s embassies must be fully functional. This diplomatic gap should be addressed immediately to help the country maximise its global partnerships,” he advised.

“May God help Nigeria.”

The senator’s remarks come amid global debate over Donald Trump’s threat to classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and his suggestion that U.S. military intervention could be considered to address alleged mass killings and government inaction.