Nigeria’s northern neighbor, Niger Republic has promulgated a decree on mobilisation of its citizens in the aftermath of Thursday night’s collaborative assault by Nigeria and the US on terrorists’ camps in Sokoto State.

Less than 24 hours after the air strikes, Niger’s Council of Ministers met in Niamey under the chairmanship of General Abdurahamane Tiani and adopted a draft ordinance asking Nigeriens to be part of a general mobilisation in defence of the country.

Tangaza Local Government area which was the main target of the Tomahawk missile strikes lies on the border between Nigeria and Niger.

Nigerian and US officials have said the operations against terrorists in the north are ongoing.

The US has already resumed intelligence and surveillance operations in Sambisa forest in Borno State following the Sokoto missile attacks.

Under the Nigerien ordinance, citizens are required to respond immediately to call-ups, comply with requisitions, report hostile foreign nationals or obstructive activities, and refrain from communications that could undermine mobilisation efforts.

The ordinance is grounded in the country’s “Charter of Refoundation” and existing national defence legislation, underscoring the need to protect territorial integrity, sovereignty, the population, and vital state interests amid what authorities describe as escalating threats.

Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, all of which constitute the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), had last week formally launched a 5,000-strong joint military force known as the United Force of the AES (FU-AES) to check terrorism.

Designed to conduct joint counterterrorism operations, enhance border security, and improve intelligence sharing, the force marks a step toward collective defence among the three junta-led countries, which have distanced themselves from Western partners and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

US resumes surveillance of Sambisa forest

The US yesterday resumed intelligence and surveillance operations in Nigeria following the Sokoto strikes.

“The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa forest, Borno State in Northeast Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,”blogger Brant Philip said on X yesterday.

The ISR operation was launched soon after recent talks between National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Extend U.S.–Nigeria military strikes against terrorists to North-East, Ndume tells FG

The Senator representing Borno South, Mohammed Ali Ndume, yesterday hailed the Thursday airstrikes in Sokoto State, and called for the extension of the operation to the hideouts of terrorists in the North East.

“We welcome this cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in targeting terrorist hideouts,” Ndume said in a statement.

He asked the two countries to “extend it (missile strikes) to the North-East where ISWAP and Boko Haram have their three known black spots, Lake Chad, the Mandara Mountains and Sambisa Forest, which are exclusive strongholds of these groups.”

He said the military partnership with the United States should go beyond air strikes to include support for ground troops through training, intelligence sharing and logistics, as well as the deployment of attack helicopters to back ground operations.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for allocating what he described as the highest budgetary provision to defence in the 2026 Appropriation Bill but stressed the need for accountability and transparency in the utilisation of the funds.

Reacting to the recent suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Gamboru, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, which claimed five lives and left many others injured, Ndume expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

US support is no violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty, says Shehu Sani

Also reacting to the partnership between Nigeria and the US,Senator Shehu Sani dismissed claims that the arrangement is in violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty.

“Our sovereignty has since been violated by terrorists and murderous gangs who have countlessly slaughtered our people, raped our women, burned down our villages, kidnapped our students and extorted billions in ransom,” he wrote on his verified X account @ShehuSani yesterday.

He added: “any military action taken with the consent or participation of our Government can’t be categorised as a violation of our sovereignty.

“We have lost hundreds of our gallant soldiers, thousands of our citizens and pumped billions of dollars for nearly two decades and counting.

“Terrorists have turned our North West region into a bloody theatre of endless funerals and perpetual bereavement. We have prayed and pampered enough.

“Their illusive, theocratic lunacy pursued through bloodshed and criminality must be confronted and defeated if we want to live in peace.

“The military action to incinerate and annihilate them is the only path to getting our country back.

“When you have a fire in your home or snakes in your room, you don’t have the luxury of selecting or screening those who will help you to extinguish it. Not just the US, if China,Russia or any African country wants to partner with our country to fumigate and deworm our country of these pests and evil forces, the Federal Government should welcome them.

“Those who are our friends should demonstrate their friendship in times of our urgent needs. However, the ULTIMATE security of our country lies with the NIGERIAN ARMY and the effectiveness of our other security agencies in the service of our country and not with President Trump.”

Omokri: ADC attack on Nigeria, US airstrike on terrorists is unfortunate

Ambassador –designate, Reno Omokri deplored the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for condemning the airstrikes against terrorists in Sokoto State.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi had branded the strikes as evidence of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s incapacity to secure the country.

Omokri described the opposition party’s statement as irresponsible and against the interest of Nigerians it seeks to govern, pointing out that the ADC has never condemned acts of terror in the country.

“I find it particularly disturbing that the African Democratic Congress never released a ballistic statement against terrorists when they strike and massacre innocent Nigerian citizens,” Omokri said in a statement.

“Yet this same African Democratic Congress has released perhaps its most strongly worded statement against the Nigerian and American governments after the joint coordinated strike against bloodthirsty terrorists.”

He challenged the party to reproduce one statement by it criticising terrorists the way its statement blasted the Federal Government.

“They are quiet when terror strikes and loquacious when you strike terror,” Omokri said, emphasising, “They say nothing when foreign terrorists breach Nigeria’s sovereignty, but explode when our international partners work with us to protect our sovereignty.”

Wondering whose interest the ADC was protecting, the former presidential aide, asked the party to consider changing its motto from ‘Arise and Shine Nigeria’ to ‘Arise and Protect Terrorists!’

COAS to troops: eliminate all terrorist threats

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, yesterday urged troops of 8 Division, Sokoto, to sustain operational momentum and decisively eliminate terrorists within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).

The COAS gave the charge when he addressed troops of 248 Reconnaissance Battalion, Illela, Sokoto State, during an operational visit to formations and units under the 8 Division AOR.

“You must maintain the momentum to further annihilate and send the terrorists to their maker who is to decide what to do with them.

“We can no longer tolerate their excesses against the Nigerian people” the COAS said.

He commended the troops for their gallantry, professionalism and resilience in confronting criminal elements whose activities have brought untold hardship to citizens.

The Army Chief also lauded the troops for their operational successes, noting that their sustained efforts have significantly improved security within the AOR. (The Nation)

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