Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson, has thrown his weight behind U.S. President Donald Trump’s concerns on the mass killings in Nigeria, terming the development as “a wake-up call to action.”
He said terrorists controlled territories in Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina, where they imposed taxes and operate outside Nigerian laws. “This is a direct affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and should not be tolerated any further. President Trump’s statement is a wake-up call to action,” he said.
Dickson stated his position in a statement on Thursday, titled, “Alleged Genocide: My Stance On President Trump’s Statement.”
His comments come as mixed reactions trail the threat of Donald Trump to carry out military operations in Nigeria and labeling the country as that of “Particular Concern”.
According to Dickson, while Nigeria’s sovereignty must be respected, the country must embrace global partnerships to combat terrorism and restore peace.
“I wish to state, firstly, that Nigeria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national institutions must be respected by all. At the same time, I fully support any collaborative action aimed at eradicating the murderous bands of terrorists who have wantonly slaughtered thousands of our countrymen and women — Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths alike,” he said.
The Senator, who represents Bayelsa West, recounted how terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, ISIS, al-Qaeda, and others have “wreaked unimaginable havoc” across Nigeria for nearly 15 years.
“They introduced suicide bombing in Nigeria and began a murderous campaign, especially in Borno State, from which it gradually spread across the northeastern part of our country.
“Places of worship — both churches and mosques, as well as palaces and traditional rulers have not been spared in their bloodbath. School children have been kidnapped, killed, or forcefully married off.”
He lamented that the whereabouts of Leah Sharibu and several Chibok girls remained unknown: “Till today, Nigeria has not fully accounted for the whereabouts of many of these students — for instance, Leah Sharibu and some Chibok girls remain missing.”
Dickson revealed that the Nigerian Senate has consistently raised concerns about the escalating violence. “Hardly a week passes without a member of the Senate drawing attention to reports of killings and attacks on villages in one constituency or the other,” he said.
He added that the Senate recently proposed a National Security Summit and directed its leadership to engage with the presidency on dispatching “a non-partisan team of experts and statesmen to Washington D.C.”
The senator also criticised the failures of successive governments, citing allegations of state complicity during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
“Late President Buhari’s policy of appointing mostly Muslims to head all the security services during his eight years in office further worsened these perceptions,” he noted.
“We need help! No nation can confront terrorism in isolation,” Dickson declared. He urged President Bola Tinubu to “collaborate with President Donald Trump, the US Government, and other allies and friends of Nigeria to flush out these marauding terrorists.”
He further called for the swift appointment of ambassadors to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic capacity. “This anomaly should be corrected as soon as possible to enable our country maximise its diplomatic resources and options,” he said.
