“We therefore demand from the government a clear explanation of the role of Nigeria and the terms of engagement in this ‘collaboration.” What level of operational control did Nigerian security forces exercise? How many terrorists were actually neutralised?
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has characterized the airstrikes conducted by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, as a testament to what it refers to as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s significant incompetence.
The opposition party conveyed this message in a statement released on Friday to Naija News, which was signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. While the party expressed support for all lawful measures aimed at safeguarding the lives of Nigerians, it attributed the unprecedented military assault executed by a foreign army on Nigerian territory to what it termed the failure of governance under President Tinubu.
It cautioned that allowing foreign forces to conduct direct military operations within the country is not a viable solution and could jeopardize Nigeria’s strategic interests over time.
The ADC further questioned Nigeria’s genuine involvement in the so-called “collaboration,” asserting that Nigeria should not merely act as “informants” in an operation that it ought to be leading.
Consequently, the party called for clarifications regarding operational control, casualties, and detailed information about the number and identities of the actual terrorists who were killed during the operation.
The ADC warned against conflating “collaboration” with what it termed “myopic surrender,” and expressed apprehension regarding the government’s management of information related to the operation, as well as the ongoing portrayal of the war against terror in religious terms by the U.S., which it claimed ultimately threatens Nigeria’s national unity.
The party’s complete statement reads: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) recognises the serious security challenges confronting Nigeria and affirms that the protection of Nigerian lives and the defeat of terrorism must remain a central national priority. We therefore support all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security.
“Nevertheless, the ADC reiterates its long-standing opposition to the physical operation of foreign military forces on Nigerian soil. We must not allow our desperation today to compromise the sovereignty of our country in whatever form or guise.
“It is in this context that we accept the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes on “terrorist locations” in Sokoto State on Thursday, December 25, 2025, only as a desperate measure that must not be allowed to substitute for a Nigeria-led action against its domestic security challenges.
“As an anomaly, the action can only be justified in the context of the historic incompetence of the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in dealing with the nation’s security challenges. This is what happens when a government behaves as though governance is all about revenue collection and all other issues, including national security and diplomacy, could be treated as an afterthought.
“The manner in which Nigerians were informed of this development is equally troubling. When it comes to politics and propaganda, the President addresses the nation directly. Yet, when faced with an issue as sensitive, momentous, and consequential as a foreign military strike on Nigerian soil, the primary source of information was a social media post by the American President, while the only information coming from Nigeria was from a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This reflects a frightening lack of awareness of the historic significance of this incident by the President of Nigeria.
“The ADC notes the statements by the Nigerian government about the collaborative role it has played in the operation by providing intelligence to the Americans and in managing the narratives around the airstrike. In other words, the Nigerian government merely played the role of an informant in an operation it should have led. We also wonder why Nigeria has allowed the United States government to persist in framing the security situation in sectional religious terms if indeed the relationship is collaborative.
“We therefore demand from the government a clear explanation of the role of Nigeria and the terms of engagement in this ‘collaboration.” What level of operational control did Nigerian security forces exercise? How many terrorists were actually neutralised? If Nigeria possessed the intelligence that it could pass on to the United States to guide this operation, why was the country unable to lead the mission, despite the trillions of naira spent over the years on security? What special skills or technology did this operation require that Nigeria does not possess? What are the immediate outcomes of the strike, and how many more such strikes should we expect?
“The ADC would like to warn that there is a difference between strategic collaboration and myopic surrender that is ultimately counter-productive to national security and inimical to the long-term sovereign interests of Nigeria. What we see is that President Tinubu has outsourced his most important constitutional responsibility, effectively taking a back seat in a vehicle he is constitutionally assigned to drive. When the President of Nigeria appears compelled to report himself to another head of state, even tagging a foreign President in a Christmas Day message, Nigerians are entitled to ask who is truly in charge of their country.
“Let us be clear. The ADC supports the fight against terrorism and will support any genuine effort to secure the nation. However, we are deeply disturbed by the long-term implications of this incident for Nigeria’s sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and self-respect.
“No one would believe that a single strike on one location can end a war of this nature. Therefore, what matters now is the direction the government intends to take going forward. But it must start by answering the critical questions that this attack has thrown up.”
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