Opinion: Strengthening Nigeria’s Response to Terrorism — A Call to Action ~ Truth Reporters

 

       ------ Message To President Donald Trump J.

By Rero Miracle Ogwilaya

Nigeria is not facing a Christian genocide. What we face today is a growing terrorism threat that does not discriminate by faith: these violent actors target Muslims and Christians alike. That distinction matters because the remedies for communal fear and sectarian narratives are different from the remedies for insurgency, guerrilla tactics and organised terror. Confusing one for the other weakens our response and hands the advantage to those who would destroy our peace.

We remember the confidence of those militants years ago — when they marched openly, planted flags and tried to seize territory. They were driven back. But the battle has evolved. Today’s attackers use hit-and-run strikes, improvised ambushes and small-unit terror to sow fear and avoid decisive defeat. If we are to protect our people and restore security to every marketplace, mosque, church and school, we must modernize our strategy — fast.

Clear diagnosis, decisive measures

First, we must be precise about the problem: this is asymmetric terrorism, not a civil war between faith communities. That means our solutions must be intelligence-led, surgical, and rooted in sustained law-enforcement and civil-society partnerships — not inflammatory rhetoric that divides citizens. The Government of Nigeria has taken important steps. Still, the scale and sophistication of today’s threat demand a new set of tools and partnerships — domestic and international.

Practical, rights-respecting surveillance — targeted CCTV and covert capability

One immediate, high-impact measure is a public surveillance architecture designed to deter crime, aid investigations and provide real-time intelligence to emergency responders.

• Public CCTV network: Install high-quality cameras in transit hubs, major intersections, markets and other public spaces. These cameras should be invisible and signed, which acts as a deterrent and aligns with democratic norms.

• Targeted covert deployment: In high-risk locations where deterrence is insufficient, limited covert cameras operated under strict legal authorizations can provide the edge investigators need to disrupt plots before they happen.

To make surveillance acceptable to Nigerian and international audiences, these systems must be implemented within robust safeguards:

Clear legal frameworks that define where and when covert cameras may be used.

Independent oversight (judicial or parliamentary) and regular public reporting.

Data protection rules: retention limits, access logs, and severe penalties for misuse.

Community consultation and transparency about public-camera programs and their purpose.

When done this way, cameras protect liberty by protecting life.

Specialist capacity, training and international partnerships

Technology alone will not win this fight. We need properly trained specialist units — investigators, digital-forensics teams, negotiators, crisis managers and community-policing officers — backed by analytics and the rapid-sharing of actionable intelligence.

Nigeria should deepen tactical partnerships with willing international partners on training, equipment transfers, and operational best-practices. I propose a cooperative program — co-sponsored and audited — that pairs Nigerian units with U.S. specialists and other allies for:

Tactical and intelligence training

Forensic and cyber-investigations capacity building

Joint exercises and lessons-learned exchanges

Such cooperation should respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, be demand-driven, and aim to create sustainable, locally-owned capabilities.

Decentralize responsibly — trust, not patronage

Security cannot be centralized only in Abuja. Local leaders, governors, and trusted regional security professionals must share responsibility for protecting their communities — with resources and oversight from the federal government. That requires:

Clear lines of responsibility and funding to state and local security agencies;

Vetting and accountability mechanisms to ensure security actors are patriots, not mischief-makers;

Community-engagement officers to rebuild trust between citizens and those who protect them.

Protecting civil liberties while protecting lives

Any national security proposal that ignores human rights will be self-defeating. Surveillance, targeted operations and international assistance can all be structured to protect civil liberties. That balance — security with respect for due process — is what will secure the lasting peace Nigeria needs.

A note to American partners — and to Mr. Donald J. Trump Jr.

To our friends in the United States and American civil society: Nigeria seeks partnership, not patronage. We welcome technical co-sponsorship that trains Nigerians to secure their own nation. Joint programs should be transparent, evaluated publicly, and tailored to strengthen institutions rather than substitute for them.

And to President Donald J. Trump Jr.: the security of Nigeria matters to millions of Nigerians and to global stability. Constructive, well-governed support from the U.S. — aimed at intelligence-sharing, training, and human-rights-compliant technical assistance — will help eliminate violent extremists and protect innocent lives. We invite the President and all U.S. stakeholders to stand with Nigeria in a partnership built on results, respect and mutual accountability.

Conclusion — unity, competence, and courage

I, Comr. Rero Miracle Ogwilaya, stand for peace, unity and development. We must name the threat correctly, build capabilities that work, and ensure every action is framed by law and respect for citizens’ rights. Cameras, specialist units, decentralization to trusted hands, and international cooperation are not mutually exclusive — they are complementary parts of a sensible national security strategy. With courage, oversight and partnership, we can and must protect every Nigerian from the scourge of terrorism.

Nigeria’s eyes must be everywhere; our hands must reach those in need swiftly — and our laws must keep us free.

Miracle Ogwilaya - A devoted Pentecostal Christian.