The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the auspices of the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Nigeria’s security agencies for what it described as decisive and proactive actions against terrorism.
The commendation followed a statement by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs praising Nigeria’s response to recent attacks in the Middle Belt and urging the government to sustain efforts to protect communities in Barkin Ladi, Plateau State.
In a post on its official X account, the bureau said the United States commended Nigeria’s response to the latest attacks and expressed its readiness to continue working with the Nigerian Government to protect communities in the Middle Belt.
The US also urged Nigeria to sustain the momentum and pay particular attention to the security of communities in Barkin Ladi.
Reacting to the development, the Forum said the acknowledgement from Washington was an indication that the efforts of the Tinubu administration, coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser, were beginning to yield results.
The Convener of the Forum, Dr Danladi Ceceko Dangana, however, said the battle against terrorism was far from over, urging Nigerians to support the government and security agencies in their efforts to restore lasting peace across the country.
Dangana called on the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to sustain operations against bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram insurgents.
He cautioned that the US commendation should not be regarded as evidence that the war against terrorism had been won.
> “This commendation is welcome, but it is not a certificate of completion,” Dangana said.
He added that more work was required to ensure that every part of Nigeria was safe and that citizens, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, could live and work anywhere in the country without fear of terrorist attacks.
The Forum also singled out Ribadu for commendation, citing his efforts to strengthen coordination among security agencies and his diplomatic engagements with the United States.
According to the coalition, such engagements have helped sustain US-Nigeria relations amid concerns expressed by Washington over attacks on Christian communities in parts of the country.
The Forum said the NSA was backing his commitment to a safer Nigeria with concrete actions rather than rhetoric.
Dangana further said the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum would continue to collaborate with the Office of the National Security Adviser and security agencies until terrorism was defeated.
The statement was signed by the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations under the auspices of the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum.
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