Ndu Okoh, presenter of the Pan-African podcast Panel 54, has called for stronger military partnership with the United States to combat escalating violence by Boko Haram and other militant groups in Nigeria.
In a recent statement, Okoh argued that collaboration with the US offers the quickest path to securing the country against threats that undermine national progress, destroy families, and endanger the Nigerian way of life.
“By partnering with the United States, we can defeat these groups who seek to destroy lives, livelihoods, and our way of life,” she said.
Okoh cited figures from the National Human Rights Commission, noting that more people were killed by insurgents in the first half of 2025 than in the entirety of 2024. “The scale of violence, death, destruction, and kidnappings across this country has become commonplace,” she added.
She accused the insurgents of using propaganda to portray themselves as champions of ordinary people, while their actions reveal a self-serving agenda. Left unchecked, Okoh warned, these terrorist groups will persist in their indiscriminate campaign of violence, with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt despite the militants’ claims to represent them.
While praising the courage, bravery, and commitment of Nigeria’s military and security forces in confronting the rising threat, Okoh stressed that US support is essential to bolster their efforts.
“US support can and will make a critical difference in destroying these groups,” she said. “The US military is the most formidable in the world, with a proven track record across Africa of partnering with governments to defeat insurgencies that threaten people’s lives and livelihoods. The US recognises that the terrorist challenge facing Nigeria is not isolated but a transnational threat spanning the globe.”
Beyond training and technology, Okoh highlighted that US involvement would bring added value through emphasis on professionalism, civilian oversight, and respect for human rights.
