Nigeria, despite been a secular nation has joined other Islamic countries around the world to form a military alliance or coalition to combat terrorism. There has been increasing pressure on Muslim nations, especially the rich Gulf states, to do more to fight against the Islamic State (Isis) militant group.
The alliance, led by Saudi Arabia, will see 34 Muslim nations join forces to "protect the Islamic nation from the evils of all terrorist groups and organisations." Majority Shia Muslim Iran was conspicuous by its absence from the list of nations.
It comes amid international pressure for Gulf Arab states to do more in the fight against so-called Islamic State.
Saudi Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman said the new alliance would co-ordinate efforts against extremists in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan.
Neither Iraq nor Syria, whose governments are close to Shia-ruled Iran, are in the coalition, nor is Afghanistan.
Two things stand out immediately about this new Saudi-based Islamic Coalition.
The Shia-majority nations of Iran and Iraq are noticeably absent, as is their ally Syria.
It is far from clear how, in practice, the coalition would conduct counter-terrorism operations in IS-plagued Iraq and Syria without the agreement of those governments.
Many people have wondered why secular states like Nigeria, Benin and Maldives were drafted into the list. Some wondered if non Muslims soldiers would be recruited to fight a war whose major aim was for the interest of the Islam. Back home in Nigeria, the issues is raising a lot of concerns as a lot questions are been put here and there but the obvious facts remains that the Country's fanatic leader forcefully inserts Nigeria name on the list without any due consultations.
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