President Trump said he has the list of those sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria—Igwe Gerald Mbamalu

In a recent interview with The Sun News, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu, the traditional ruler of Ojoto known as Eze Ojoto III, shared his perspectives on the state of the nation as he prepares for his third Ofala festival. The monarch touched upon several sensitive issues, ranging from the judicial status of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the persistent security challenges facing Northern Nigeria.

Addressing the legal situation of Nnamdi Kanu, the Igwe noted that judges must rely strictly on the evidence and arguments presented before the court rather than intuition or speculation. He observed that while the prosecution and defence both participated in the trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, it was a setback that Kanu did not offer a defence toward the conclusion of the proceedings.

However, the monarch emphasised that the core grievances of the Southeast, such as political marginalisation and a lack of infrastructure, transcend any single individual. He argued that even with Kanu’s conviction, the underlying dissatisfaction among the Igbo people regarding their place in the Nigerian federation will persist until they are treated as equal stakeholders.

The traditional ruler expressed a mixture of relief and scepticism regarding the recent commitment by Northern governors and traditional leaders to combat regional insecurity. While he welcomed their resolve, he questioned the long delay, wondering why such a unified stance took over a decade to manifest.

He suggested that the internal opposition to these peace efforts indicates that certain high-ranking officials may be profiting from the ongoing insurgency. Such internal resistance, he noted, only validates the international community’s concerns about Nigeria.

Highlighting the international dimension of these crises, the Igwe referenced the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern due to the targeted killings of Christians in the North.

He suggested that the technological and intelligence capabilities of the U.S. provide them with a clear view of the situation that may be hidden from the Nigerian public. In this context, he said, “President Trump said he has the list of those sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria.”

Igwe Mbamalu concluded by appealing directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exercise his executive authority to grant Nnamdi Kanu an unconditional state pardon. He argued that such a gesture, combined with a genuine effort to accord the Southeast its rightful status, is the only way to truly quell regional agitations.

Furthermore, he urged the federal government to embrace foreign assistance to tackle the sophisticated nature of modern banditry and terrorism, noting that Nigeria’s porous borders and internal complicity require the advanced intervention that a power like the United States can offer.

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