Terrorism: S/Arabia Lists Nigeria In Multinational Alliance

Nigeria has been listed among 34 mainly Muslim countries by Saudi Arabia, to coordinate a global fight against terrorist organisations. 

According to the government of Saudi Arabia, the alliance will not only  just confront the Islamic State (ISIS) group, but according to his words, “any terrorist group in front of us.”

According to Al Jazeera, the alliance was announced by Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s defence minister and deputy crown prince, on Tuesday, December 14.

Saudi Arabia’s regional rival Iran and its allies Syria and Iraq were excluded from the alliance, despite the states sharing a common enemy in the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

A statement Saudi Press Agency said Islam forbids “corruption and destruction in the world” and that terrorism constitutes “a serious violation of human dignity and rights, especially the right to life and the right to security.”

The coalition will operate a joint operations center in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and coordinate with other international bodies to combat terrorism, the statement read

Meanwhile, according to NBC news, the United States has hailed the announcement of the anti-terrorism alliance.

“We look forward to learning more about what Saudi Arabia has in mind in terms of this coalition,” Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told jnewsmen  in Turkey.

Meanwhile, a call has been made to the federal government to gazette it that every first day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calendar) be declared as a public holiday.