U.S. Troops Made It Worse’ – Solomon Dalung Blames Foreign Presence For Rising Terrorism

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has raised concerns over the effectiveness of American military involvement in Nigeria, claiming that their presence has worsened the country’s security situation.

In an interview with RT, Dalung expressed doubts about the role of the United States in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations, particularly in efforts against insurgent groups such as Boko Haram.

He argued that rather than improving the situation, the presence of American forces appears to have emboldened terrorists, with no visible improvement in security outcomes.

According to him, “If the Americans are concerned and they want to intervene, and those opposed to their involvement are blaming them, it means they are being held responsible for what is happening to Nigerians.

“The coming of the Americans has even worsened the situation. The terrorists are more emboldened since their arrival. They have become more assertive and more aggressive in carrying out attacks.”

Dalung further questioned whether the U.S. intervention had any real impact, suggesting that it may have aggravated the crisis rather than resolved it.

He also raised concerns about the effectiveness of surveillance drones reportedly deployed by American forces, asking why they failed to detect militant movements ahead of a deadly attack in Maiduguri that claimed the life of a military commander.

“If the drones were truly effective, why couldn’t they detect Boko Haram militants moving to attack a military formation in Maiduguri?” he asked.

He added that insurgents often move using motorcycles and other means, questioning how such activities could go unnoticed if advanced surveillance systems were operational.

Dalung concluded by expressing uncertainty about the overall purpose of the American military presence in Nigeria, arguing that it appears to have complicated rather than improved the country’s security challenges.