Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), has backed President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on Nigeria’s security crisis, stating that Trump “spoke the truth.”
While addressing newsmen on Tuesday, Kalu highlighted that violent attacks in Nigeria have claimed the lives of both Christians and Muslims, emphasizing the need for decisive action against extremist groups.
“Nigerians are being killed, whether they are Christians or Muslims,” Kalu said. “There are jihadists who just want to destroy Nigeria. We should blacklist them without pity so that they will be smoked out.”
Kalu revealed that he had discussed Nigeria’s security challenges with two former U.S. Presidents—one Republican, one Democrat—and six sitting U.S. Senators, all of whom expressed readiness to assist in combating terrorism.
He noted that the U.S. intelligence community likely identified terrorist hideouts, enabling recent Nigerian Air Force strikes on these locations.
“Before President Trump says a word, the American intelligence community must have found out where these terrorists are located,” he added.
The senator, describing himself as “pro-America,” linked the current proliferation of arms in Africa to the U.S.-led interventions that removed Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein.
According to Kalu, these events destabilized the region by allowing weapons to flow unchecked across borders.
“When you killed Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, it became a problem. After their deaths, light and heavy arms spilled all over the world, and we are suffering from it today,” he explained.
Kalu dismissed claims that Trump’s comments were a critique of President Tinubu’s administration, clarifying that the U.S. focus is on jihadist groups destabilizing the country.
“Nigerians are clapping hands and political opponents are thinking the U.S. is after Tinubu’s government. No! They are going after the jihadists,” he stated.
Kalu urged Nigerian authorities to intensify their efforts to combat terrorism and restore security nationwide.