Nigerian Scholars Reject U.S. Military Presence in Nigeria

A group of Nigerian intellectuals, including Femi Falana, Jibrin Ibrahim, Abubakar Siddiqu, Dauda Garuba, Massaud Omar, Kuna Engr YZ, and Usman Bugaje, issued a joint statement condemning the deployment of U.S. military personnel in Nigeria. The U.S. has deployed 200 soldiers for advisory and training roles as part of a temporary mission to support counterterrorism efforts.

The group expressed serious concerns regarding national sovereignty, recalling Nigeria's historical resistance to foreign military dominance, including the rejection of the Anglo-Nigerian defense pact in 1960 and the withdrawal from a proposed military cooperation agreement in 2001. They highlighted that the presence of foreign troops could dilute Nigeria's sovereignty and urged the federal government to reject any neo-colonial defense pacts.

The statement emphasized the importance of strengthening Nigeria's own military capabilities rather than relying on foreign forces, advocating for investment in domestic defense and addressing socio-economic drivers of insecurity.