By Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Abuja
In the discourses of balance of power, states strategically fixate their power within a framework of military alliance, defence pacts, regional security bloc and some kind of treaties that guarantee mutual or collective security.
In balancing states’ power, a state may unilaterally build its military to fight back against an aggressor, just like the case of Iran against Israel and the United States, North Korea against South Korea and the United States.
It also takes the shape of respecting the aggressor, appeasing the aggressor, and sometimes cooperating with the aggressor in what in international relations is known as “blood letting.” This is done to ensure the security of the weaker state against the aggression of a more powerful one.
There are events that instigated the U.S. attacks on Sokoto State, which were said to have been aimed at ISIS terrorist group. First, is the rising Chinese influence in Africa and having Nigeria as the greatest market in Africa due to its large population. China-Africa relations are growing rapidly and expanding comprehensively. This is perceived and calculated to be a great threat to the economy and hegemonic power of the United States. Second, the emergence of Russia as a reliable partner of the Alliance of the Sahel States. The ejection of French and American troops within the region is subjected to policy recalculation by the United States, which intends to occupy every region, every Ocean and every Sea with Military Bases around the world. The recalculation of America’s return to the Sahel region has been made, that is why it is looking for a way to reposition itself. The claim on Christian genocide in Nigeria is the first strategic move. Third, international energy insecurity, strategic minerals locations and the quest to harness them. This has become the new source of conflict, invasion and displacement of people around the world.
We may accept the fact that the United States carried out the attacks on Sokoto State with the knowledge and approval of the Nigerian government, but this happened through the principle of blood-letting, as Nigeria let the dead blood removed for tension to calm between the regime of Trump and Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigeria is not happy, not at ease, but would have chosen to lead the war on terror alongside the United States.
The federal government, in a bid to let the US government know its commitments to fighting terrorism in Nigeria sent a delegation to the United States recently, which included the following members of the delegation: Chief Lateef Olasunkami Fagbemi, SAN – Attorney General of the Federation; General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff; Lt. Gen. EAP Undiendeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence Ms. Idayat Hassan – Special Adviser to ONSA; Ambassador Ibrahim Babani – Director of Foreign Relations, ONSA; Ambassador Nuru Biu – Acting CDA, Embassy of Nigeria and Paul Alabi – Political and Economic Section, Embassy of Nigeria. Opportunities for strengthened cooperation and coordination between the United States and Nigeria to end the bloodshed was discussed.
It was also revealed that, “Congressman Moore clearly stated that the United States stands ready to coordinate and cooperate with Nigeria, and that, as President Trump made abundantly clear, the United States will not tolerate continued violence against Christians or other forms of religious persecution. President Trump does not make idle threats. Congressman Moore will continue monitoring new developments and pushing the Nigerian government to accept the open hand of cooperation to stop the ongoing persecution and violence against Christians and combat the threat terrorist groups pose to the Nigerian population.
It should, however, be noted that it was a shameful strike carried out, as there was no meaningful report of achieving the desired goal of the strike, and that has shown why Nigeria has not been able to achieve the final decimation of the bandits in North-Western Nigeria. It was reported by the people in the local communities that they had no experience of banditry in their area, and members of ISIS have never been seen in these places. Why should attacks be carried out on these territories?
Albeit the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement, disclosed that the operation, which was in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America, led to the successful neutralisation of many terror elements on Friday, 26 December 2025, at Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State. The operation, according to him, was explicitly approved by Tinubu and carried out under established command and control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and under the supervision of the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
In the blood-letting process, the Minister argued that intelligence confirmed that the Auni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area was being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating the country in collaboration with local affiliates, to plan and execute large-scale terrorist attacks within the Nigerian territory.
In another relevant report, the federal government stated that the precision strike operations were executed between 00:12 hours and 01:30 hours on December 26. It was also reported that During the course of the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas.
In conclusion, every Nigerian supports the government in its fight against terror, and every Nigerian is happy to see the recorded successes made by the Nigerian Armed forces against the terrorists operating within the Nigeria national boundaries, but Nigerians are not happy to see their sovereignty reduced, their government humiliated by coercion or force to accept foreign intervention in its domestic affairs.
Nigerians do not want to see their economic, political or regional cooperation with partners distorted, and Nigerians do not want to see military bases around their entity. Blood-letting should remain a balance of power tool now against U.S. aggression, at the same time align more with China and Russia militarily for its national security and strategic power balancing.
Prof Ghali is the Provost, ICPC’s Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, and Head of Contemporary China-Africa Research in Nigeria.
