The recent United States military action against Islamic State (IS) elements operating within Nigeria has been described as a direct indictment of the country's security architecture. This strong criticism comes from Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, the presidential candidate of the People's Trust (PT).
A Damning Indictment of Government Inaction
In a statement released to journalists in Kaduna on December 29, 2025, Hashim placed the blame squarely on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He argued that the failure to combat the terror unleashed by insurgents forced the need for foreign intervention.
Hashim stated that the US airstrikes reflect a growing international concern over Nigeria's rapidly deteriorating security situation. He specifically highlighted the North-West region, where terrorist groups are steadily consolidating their influence and territory.
Warnings Ignored and Root Causes
The former presidential candidate revealed that his team had been raising alarms since 2021, with warnings becoming more intense over the past year. Their security modelling for the North-West pointed to a dangerous trajectory, including the potential emergence of an IS-aligned enclave if urgent action was not taken.
He attributed the escalating crisis to a combination of deepening poverty, prolonged governance failure, and critically weakened state institutions. According to Hashim, this toxic mix has emboldened extremist groups while simultaneously silencing moderate political and secular voices across the region.
"More worrying is the elevation of individuals who enable or rationalise extremism into positions of political influence, creating conditions under which terror groups can aspire to territorial control," he stated.
The Path Forward: Internal Reforms Over External Strikes
While acknowledging that international airstrikes may temporarily degrade terrorist capabilities, Hashim stressed that lasting solutions must originate from within Nigeria. He cautioned that as external interventions are unlikely to be one-off actions, the mechanisms guiding them require careful negotiation within the framework of security cooperation between sovereign nations.
He emphasised the need for clear accountability structures and transparent reporting to prevent abuse and ensure long-term stability.
"The situation in the North-West is dire. Without urgent internal reforms, improved governance, and decisive political leadership, external military interventions will not produce sustainable results," he warned.
Hashim further questioned the APC-led government's political will to undertake the critical internal reforms needed to stabilise the country. He alleged that the government's apparent reluctance to act decisively may stem from political compromises made during the 2015 struggle for power, which now constrain its ability to confront extremist elements head-on.
His final warning was stark: Nigeria can no longer afford denial or half-measures in the face of what he described as an existential threat. The call is for urgent, courageous leadership to prevent the further deterioration of national security.
