Shehu Sani Credits Nigerian Security Agencies for Peaceful Yuletide, Downplays Impact of US Strike

Former senator and rights activist, Shehu Sani, has attributed the calm recorded across many parts of Nigeria during the Christmas celebrations to the continuous work of the nation’s security institutions, rather than a single foreign military operation.

Sani made the remarks in a post on X, where he countered claims suggesting that a recent United States airstrike on suspected Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in Sokoto State was the main reason for the relative stability witnessed during the festive period.

According to him, the Nigerian military, security, and intelligence agencies played the central role in maintaining order and preventing major security breaches throughout the Yuletide season.

He stressed that their sustained operations and surveillance efforts were responsible for the improved security atmosphere in several regions. “The relative peace enjoyed during the Christmas period in most parts of the country is a result of the persistent efforts of our defence, security and intelligence services, not a one-time US airstrike,” Sani stated.

His comments came in response to statements credited to a US lawmaker, Representative Riley, who had pointed to the American air operation as a decisive move in reducing terrorist threats in Nigeria.

Earlier, the United States Africa Command confirmed that it carried out airstrikes against ISIS-affiliated fighters in parts of Sokoto State in north-west Nigeria. The US military said the operation was undertaken in collaboration with Nigerian authorities as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.

Sani, however, maintained that while international partnerships are important, Nigeria’s security agencies deserve primary recognition for the relative peace recorded during the holiday period.