ADC slams Tinubu Govt over US airstrikes on terrorists in Sokoto

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the air strikes carried out by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in Sokoto State, describing the development as evidence of what it called “historic incompetence” in governance.

The United States conducted a series of precision air strikes on suspected ISIS enclaves in Sokoto in the early hours of Friday, a move the Federal Government said was done with Nigeria’s knowledge and cooperation.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, had earlier disclosed that the United States carried Nigeria along before executing the operation.

However, reacting to the development in a statement on Friday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said while the opposition party supports lawful efforts to protect Nigerian lives, the need for foreign military intervention on Nigerian soil reflects deep-seated failures in governance and security leadership.

According to Abdullahi, allowing external forces to carry out direct military operations within Nigeria is unsustainable and poses potential risks to the country’s long-term strategic and sovereignty interests.

He cautioned that Nigeria must not be relegated to a secondary role in security operations within its own territory.

“Nigeria must not be reduced to the status of a mere informant in an operation it ought to be leading,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC spokesman further called on the Federal Government to provide clear and detailed information on the air strikes, including operational control, casualty figures, and the number and identity of terrorists neutralised during the operation.

“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,” the statement read.

“We therefore support all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security.”

Despite this, the party reaffirmed its opposition to the physical operation of foreign military forces on Nigerian soil, warning that desperation must not override national sovereignty.

“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 Nigeria-led action,” Abdullahi said.

The statement added that Nigeria must urgently strengthen its internal security architecture to ensure that counter-terrorism operations remain firmly under Nigerian command and control, in line with constitutional responsibility and national interest.

Very Nigerian.

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