***Calls for Unyielding Fight Against Terrorism
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has lauded U.S. President Donald Trump for authorising targeted airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) factions operating in Nigeria, describing the action as a decisive response to years of terrorist violence that have ravaged communities across the country.
U.S. authorities recently confirmed that American forces carried out precision strikes against ISIS-linked camps and logistical networks in north-western Nigeria, following President Trump’s renewed commitment to confronting terrorist organisations threatening regional and global security.
National Coordinator of the association, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko in a statement on Friday hailed the operation as a demonstration of political will and military focus, noting that extremist groups—including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and armed Fulani militias—have long acted with deadly impunity in Nigeria.
The association emphasised that terrorism in Nigeria has claimed over 60,000 lives, displaced countless others, and left many maimed. Attacks have included mass killings in villages, bombings of mosques and churches, assaults on schools, abductions of students, executions of aid workers, destruction of farmlands, and systematic targeting of security personnel.
According to HURIWA, Boko Haram and its affiliates have decimated entire communities, emptied towns in the North-East and North-West, and triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Similarly, armed Fulani extremist groups continue coordinated attacks on farming communities in the Middle Belt and southern Kaduna, often facing minimal resistance.
The organisation urged the United States and its allies to maintain relentless pressure on ISIS, Boko Haram, and associated terror networks until they are dismantled and rendered incapable of harming civilians. It also stressed that military operations must be precise to avoid civilian casualties and protect already traumatised populations.
HURIWA further called on the Nigerian government to move beyond rhetoric by implementing robust security strategies, including enhanced intelligence coordination, sustained military offensives, prosecution of terror financiers and collaborators, and improved protection for vulnerable communities.
In addition, the group condemned Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for repeated statements perceived as sympathetic to armed groups and opposed to decisive military action. HURIWA described such positions as dangerous amid Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against violent extremism and urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate his activities.
HURIWA stressed that defeating terrorism in Nigeria requires unity, clarity of purpose, and zero tolerance for extremism or its enablers, warning that indecision would only embolden violent actors and prolong the suffering of civilians.
While welcoming international military support, the association reiterated that Nigeria must demonstrate unwavering resolve to eradicate terrorism and restore peace, security, and justice across the federation.
