No Reckless Military Action against Nigeria!

I am writing as a constituent deeply concerned about recent public statements suggesting that the United States might pursue direct military action in Nigeria. While I share grave concern about ongoing violence—including targeted attacks on Christian communities—history shows that foreign intervention almost never brings peace, and often makes conditions worse for civilians of every faith. From Bosnia to Libya, from Iraq to Afghanistan, outside airstrikes or invasions have repeatedly stopped short of lasting stability. In Bosnia, NATO bombing ended open war only after years of ethnic cleansing and exhaustive diplomacy. In Libya, intervention averted one massacre but left a power vacuum that unleashed civil war. In Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. troops toppled regimes but could not secure enduring safety or governance, and civilian deaths mounted. France’s decade-long mission in Mali likewise failed to contain extremists and ultimately fueled anti-Western sentiment across the Sahel. Nigeria’s conflict is similarly complex. It involves terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, but also farmer-herder clashes, land disputes, poverty, and weak local security institutions. A “guns-a-blazing” approach would risk civilian casualties, undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, and inflame the very extremism we hope to reduce. What works instead are partnerships that strengthen—rather than replace—local capacity: targeted intelligence and training for Nigerian and regional security forces under strict human-rights oversight; economic and governance assistance that promotes accountability and equitable land and resource management; community peacebuilding and reconciliation programs involving both Christian and Muslim leaders; and regional coordination through ECOWAS and the African Union. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, the State Department, and the International Crisis Group all emphasize these approaches over unilateral military strikes. By supporting Nigerian-led solutions and humanitarian aid, Congress can help protect vulnerable communities without deepening the cycle of violence. I urge you to speak out against any proposal for reckless or unilateral U.S. military action in Nigeria and to champion policies that prioritize diplomacy, development, and peacebuilding. These are the tools that save lives and uphold both American values and international law. Thank you for your leadership and for considering this urgent concern.