In a week marked by solemn anniversaries and urgent diplomatic overtures, Nigeria’s struggle against escalating violence and insecurity has taken center stage both at home and abroad. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, speaking through Speaker of the House Tajuddeen Abbas at the 25th Anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in Kaduna on November 23, 2025, reaffirmed his administration’s determination to confront banditry and terrorism, vowing that no part of the country would be allowed to "bleed in silence" under his watch. As Tinubu’s government contends with a deeply layered security crisis in Northern Nigeria, the United States has signaled a broader strategy to protect Nigeria’s Christians from violence, following former President Donald Trump’s threats of potential military action against Islamic militants.
According to The Winnipeg Free Press, the U.S. government’s approach now extends beyond the possibility of military force. A State Department official outlined a comprehensive plan involving diplomatic tools such as potential sanctions, assistance programs, and intelligence sharing with the Nigerian government. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Nigeria’s national security adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss coordinated efforts to halt violence. Hegseth, in a Pentagon statement, emphasized the need for Nigeria to demonstrate both urgent and enduring action to stop attacks on Christians, stating the U.S. desire to "work by, with, and through Nigeria to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States."
President Tinubu, in his address at the ACF event, acknowledged inheriting a sophisticated security crisis but maintained that his administration is "determined to restore peace with urgency and firmness." He warned, as reported by Premium Times, that "Nigeria cannot make significant progress if a crucial region like the North stays paralyzed," underscoring the North’s stability as vital to the nation’s peace and prosperity. Tinubu praised the ACF for 25 years of acting as the North’s conscience, describing it as a "wellspring of thinkers, patriots, mediators, and moral voices who have defended millions’ interests." He called for Northern leaders to recommit to the forum’s founding ideals of courage, justice, fairness, and collective responsibility, insisting, "With unity, there is no challenge the North cannot overcome."
The president’s optimism about economic recovery in the North was evident as he cited the planned rollout of crude oil from the Kolmani fields and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects, including faster rail, road, and water transport. Notably, he announced that the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Superhighway would be completed and commissioned in Kano in the coming months, signaling tangible progress in the region’s development. Tinubu also lauded the proposed ACF Endowment Fund, which aims to support girl-child education, youth skill development, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution—initiatives he described as "progressive steps" toward addressing the region’s most pressing challenges.
Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President, echoed Tinubu’s sentiments at the event, expressing confidence that Northern Nigeria can overcome its recurrent insecurity if leaders and institutions work together effectively. Representing the Senate President, Barau paid tribute to the ACF’s founding fathers and stressed that while the region’s issues are often highlighted, its legacy of perseverance and resolve remains undiminished. He pointed out that similar security risks exist throughout West Africa, and affirmed the willingness of federal officials to collaborate with states and local institutions to tackle the underlying causes of unrest.
Meanwhile, the American response to Nigeria’s crisis has evolved in recent weeks. As AP reports, former President Trump’s administration had previously threatened to halt all assistance to Nigeria if its government "continues to allow the killing of Christians," even suggesting the United States could go in "guns-a-blazing" to wipe out Islamic militants. The Nigerian government, however, has rejected these claims and unilateral military intervention, while welcoming assistance in fighting armed groups.
Jonathan Pratt, head of the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, told lawmakers that "possible Department of War engagement" is just one element of a larger plan, which also includes security, policing, and economic measures. "We want to look at all of these tools and have a comprehensive strategy to get the best result possible," Pratt said at a congressional hearing. The U.S. designation of Nigeria as "a country of particular concern" over religious freedom has opened the door for sanctions and other diplomatic actions.
The violence in Nigeria is anything but simple. As AP and The Winnipeg Free Press detail, militant Islamist groups like Boko Haram have killed both Christians and Muslims, while conflicts between mainly Muslim herders and mostly Christian farmers over land and water have simmered for years. Armed bandits, often motivated by ransom rather than religious ideology, have targeted schools for mass abductions—a grim pattern seen again in early November 2025, when students were kidnapped from both Catholic and Muslim-majority schools. In another attack, gunmen killed two people at a church and abducted several worshippers, intensifying fears across communities.
Experts stress that Nigeria’s insecurity is decades in the making and warn that U.S. military action alone will not solve the problem. Judd Devermont, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, remarked, "Nigeria’s struggles with insecurity are decades in the making. It will not be reversed overnight by an influx of U.S. resources." Devermont emphasized the need for economic and interfaith partnerships, as well as stronger policing, noting that effective U.S. involvement would require the Nigerian government’s cooperation. "This is not a policy of neglect by the Nigerian government—it’s a problem of capacity," he said. "The federal government does not want to see its citizens being killed by Boko Haram and doesn’t want to see sectarian violence spiral out the way it has."
Complicating matters further, the U.S. military’s presence in Africa has diminished in recent years, with partnerships scaled down or canceled and regional security cooperation hampered by recent coups in West Africa. If the U.S. were to intervene militarily in Nigeria, forces would likely have to be drawn from other parts of the world, and experts caution that any such action would require close coordination with Nigerian authorities to avoid disastrous consequences. Malik Samuel, a security researcher at Good Governance Africa, warned, "The consequences are that if the U.S. deploys troops on the ground without understanding the context they are in, it poses risks to the troops." Nigeria’s own aerial assaults on armed groups have sometimes resulted in accidental civilian casualties, underscoring the complexity and danger of military solutions.
Despite the daunting challenges, both Nigerian and American officials appear committed to pursuing a multifaceted approach. Tinubu’s administration is betting on unity, economic revitalization, and community-driven initiatives, while U.S. officials are broadening their strategy to include diplomatic, economic, and security tools. As the region marks the ACF’s 25th anniversary, the path forward is fraught with difficulty but not without hope, as leaders on both sides seek to steer Nigeria away from the brink and toward a more peaceful and prosperous future.
