The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, has said foreign military intervention, including possible United States airstrikes, could be justified in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism only if the correct criminal targets were identified and eliminated.
Speaking at the ARISE News television on Friday, Rafsanjani blamed Nigeria’s worsening insecurity on long-standing failure to implement genuine security sector reforms and deep-rooted corruption within the security architecture.
“It is worth it if you are actually getting the right target. If you are getting the right criminal, eliminate them, destroy them. It is the right decision,” Rafsanjani said, when asked whether foreign military support was acceptable.
Rafsanjani argued that the United States does not necessarily need Nigeria’s consent before taking security actions it deems necessary, describing claims to the contrary as unrealistic.
“America, the way it is, they don’t need approval of Nigeria to do what they want to do,” he said. “When Trump was issuing his tweet, what facts are you looking for before issuing it?”
The CISLAC executive director maintained that Nigeria’s insecurity is largely self-inflicted, accusing successive administrations from Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari and now Bola Tinubu of failing to prioritise reforms.
“They have not actually prioritised security sector reforms in this country to deal decisively with insecurity,” he said.
“We have provided evidence that security sector corruption is a major reason why we are where we are today.”
He cited the continued deployment of police officers to protect political elites despite presidential directives to withdraw them from VIP duties.
“Even when the president gives a directive, nothing happens. Go to Kano today, you will still see about 20 policemen guarding an emir,” he said. “That shows we are not serious.”
Rafsanjani alleged that insecurity in Nigeria is sometimes deliberately sustained for political gain, calling for accountability across security agencies.
“Artificial insecurity is being created to serve political interests,” he said. “People who commit atrocities must be arrested, prosecuted and convicted, no matter how highly placed they are.”
He also criticised international figures who comment on Nigeria’s security challenges, singling out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “This is somebody who has been killing and bombing Christians in Gaza, churches inclusive, yet he now has the courage to talk about killings in Nigeria,” Rafsanjani said. “If we had the right leadership, they would have responded to him.”
Rejecting claims that decisive military action could spark ethnic or religious backlash, Rafsanjani insisted Nigerians across faiths are victims of terrorism.
“Muslims are being killed and harassed every day by the same criminals,” he said. “This conversation should be about human life, not religion or geography.”
He urged President Tinubu to act decisively without fear of political narratives. “The constitution mandates the president to act irrespective of identity,” he said. “We should join hands to defeat criminals.”
Rafsanjani reaffirmed that any intervention, local or foreign must prioritise accuracy, accountability and protection of innocent lives, as Nigeria prepares to confront insecurity heading into 2026.
