Airstrikes: Bukarti warns of political narratives, urges transparency, broader strategy

An international Human Rights lawyer and conflict analyst, Dr Bulama Bukarti, has said recent United States airstrikes in Nigeria could contribute to improving the country’s security situation if they were intelligence-driven, precisely executed and targeted at actual criminal leaders, but warned that such actions must be transparent and embedded within a broader security strategy.

Bukarti disclosed this in an interview with BBC News while reacting to reports of US-backed airstrikes and renewed diplomatic engagement between Washington and Abuja.

He explained that the development followed months of rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly raised concerns about Nigeria, particularly framing the country’s insecurity through what Bukarti described as a “Christian persecution narrative.”

“President Trump started speaking about Nigeria about two months ago and even warned that if the Nigerian government did not take the steps he wanted, unilateral military action could follow,” Bukarti said, noting that such an approach risked damaging Nigeria–US relations.

However, he acknowledged a shift in approach, saying it was positive that the reported strikes were carried out with the consent and cooperation of the Nigerian government rather than through unilateral action.

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SolaceBase recalls that Nigeria has long relied on international military cooperation, particularly intelligence sharing and training, in its fight against insurgency and banditry, even as concerns persist over sovereignty, civilian protection and accountability.

Bukarti suggested that the financial support recently pledged to Nigeria by the US could be linked to the overnight military action, but stressed that the real impact would depend on the outcome of the strikes.

“These kinds of strikes can help in taking out leadership, degrading logistics and limiting operational capacity, but we will have to wait and see who was targeted, where, and what the outcome is,” he said, adding that transparency from both governments was “fundamental.”

On how the strikes might be perceived domestically, Bukarti drew a distinction between US political messaging and Nigerian realities.

While Trump’s statements have emphasised religion and timing, including references to Christmas, Bukarti said Nigerians largely view insecurity as a shared national tragedy affecting Muslims, Christians and others alike.

For Nigerians, this is a real security situation that is killing everyone,” he said, noting that any genuine effort to save lives would likely be welcomed, especially if there were no civilian casualties and the intended targets were hit.

SolaceBase reports that insecurity in Nigeria has persisted for close to two decades, with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) largely concentrated in the North-East, while mass kidnappings, village raids and killings by armed bandit groups have plagued the North-West.

Bukarti observed that many Nigerians were surprised by claims that ISIS targets were hit in the North-West, an area not known for a significant ISIS presence.

He explained that the region is instead dominated by bandit groups that have killed thousands, abducted hundreds of thousands and extorted millions of dollars in ransom.

Read Also: School closures signal surrender to terrorists – Bukarti warns

He added that the strikes may have targeted either bandit camps or a newer armed group known as Lakurawa, which he said had recently moved from the Sahel into parts of north-western Nigeria, including Sokoto State.

In any case, Bukarti said Nigerians were hopeful that the strikes hit actual criminals rather than civilians and that the operations would weaken armed groups enough to give the government space to reclaim territory and stabilise affected areas.

However, he cautioned that airstrikes alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s security crisis. According to him, lasting peace requires a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond military action.

“This has to include building local capacity, addressing socio-economic grievances that push young people into violence, and tackling the infrastructural deficits in rural Nigeria,” he said.

SolaceBase observes that analysts and security experts have consistently argued that without addressing poverty, unemployment and weak governance in rural areas, military gains against armed groups may remain short-lived.