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By Oscar Okhifo
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Nigerian government to provide full details of the December 25 U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State, describing the operation as a consequence of the current administration’s failure and insisting that Nigerians deserve to know how many terrorists were killed.
While welcoming lawful efforts to protect citizens, the party blamed what it termed the “incompetence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration” for allowing a foreign military to carry out strikes on Nigerian soil.
It warned that permitting external forces to conduct direct operations in the country is unsustainable and could undermine Nigeria’s long-term strategic interests.
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, the party demanded clarity on operational control, casualties, and the number and identity of terrorists neutralized.
It stressed that Nigeria should not merely serve as an informant in a mission it should be leading.
The ADC also criticized the government’s handling of information about the strikes, noting that while the President often addresses the nation directly on political matters, Nigerians first learned about the airstrikes from a social media post by the U.S. President.
The party called this a “frightening lack of awareness of the historic significance of this incident.”
“Strategic collaboration should not be confused with myopic surrender,” the statement said, warning that outsourcing key security responsibilities undermines national sovereignty.
The ADC further questioned why the U.S. continues to frame Nigeria’s security challenges in religious terms despite the supposed collaboration.
The party also raised concerns about Nigeria’s role in the operation, asking why the country could not lead the mission despite years of investment in security, and what special skills or technology the operation required that Nigeria does not possess.
It called for clear explanations of operational control, immediate outcomes, and the expected frequency of future strikes.
“We support all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security,” the statement read.
“However, the ADC reiterates its long-standing opposition to foreign military operations on Nigerian soil, which must not substitute for Nigeria-led action against domestic security challenges.”
The party concluded by emphasizing that the protection of Nigerian lives and the defeat of terrorism must remain a national priority, but sovereignty and self-respect should not be compromised in the process.