A retired Nigerian Air Force fighter pilot, Air Commodore Abayomi Balogun, has defended Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States in recent strikes against terrorist targets, describing the operation as ‘legitimate, coordinated, and necessary’.
Speaking to ARISE News on Saturday, Balogun said Nigeria acted within international norms by requesting external military assistance when local capacity alone was insufficient.
“Yes, that’s what we heard. The Americans say we collaborated, even the Nigerians say yes. It’s unfortunate that we had to get to this level, but it’s not unusual,” he said.
He noted that counterterrorism operations often require international support, and Nigeria has received foreign assistance for over a decade.
In the war against terrorism and anti-terrorism, you need help. We’ve been on this trail for the past 15 years. Even before now, they had assisted in the past,” he said.
Balogun rejected concerns over sovereignty, saying the operation was coordinated and carried out with Nigerian approval.
“They came with our permission. We work with them. So, there’s nothing strange. We have a challenge, we ask for a solution, and they have assisted us. I have nothing against it. It’s right,” he said.
He added that the ultimate goal is to eliminate terrorists and restore peace.
“We should work more to get rid of these guys from Nigeria so that Nigeria can be more peaceful,” he said.
Recalling the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, Balogun said Western allies provided intelligence that helped locate the girls.
“During the days of the Chibok girls, the US was always available. The British and the French assisted us in locating where the girls were. They only gave us intelligence, but it helped in locating them,” he said.
While earlier collaboration was limited to intelligence-sharing, he said the current operation involved kinetic action due to evolving security challenges.
“For us to have asked for this assistance now in a kinetic way, yes. In global geopolitics, when you are not able to do some things, you are free to ask for help,” he said.
Balogun explained that strategic considerations guided the choice of strike locations, including disrupting supply routes and resources.
Before such actions are carried out, you must sit down and look at the overall situation. Strategic decisions are taken. There must be a reason why such places were chosen
“If it were a route, part of the strategy of war is to break the lines of communication of your enemy. If you deny them that route, whatever they were getting through it will be cut off
“When you are fighting, you consider how they survive, where they get food, fuel and funding. You must cut off all those areas,” he said.
Balogun said such operations are deliberate and targeted, noting that terrorists are highly mobile
“You won’t waste such ammunition on nonsense. You must look at the importance of such places,” he said.
“Terrorists and bandits are never static. They can be here now and gone the next minute. If you don’t get them today, that does not mean you will not get them tomorrow,” he said.
He added that the strikes sent a psychological message to terrorists.
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