ADC Criticises Tinubu Over U.S. Airstrikes in Sokoto, Demands Transparency on Casualties
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a sharp criticism of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following airstrikes carried out by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on suspected terrorist targets in Sokoto State. The opposition party said the development underscores what it described as the “historic incompetence” of the current federal government in handling Nigeria’s security challenges.
The airstrikes, which reportedly targeted ISIS-linked terrorist elements, were carried out in the early hours of Friday. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, subsequently confirmed that the United States informed Nigerian authorities and carried the country along before executing the operation. According to government officials, the strikes were part of broader counterterrorism cooperation between Nigeria and its international partners.
In a statement issued by Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, the party said it recognises the grave security threats facing Nigeria and supports lawful efforts aimed at protecting lives and defeating terrorism. However, it argued that the necessity for foreign forces to conduct direct military operations on Nigerian soil points to deeper governance and security failures.
“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 acknowledgement, the party expressed strong reservations about the long-term implications of allowing foreign militaries to conduct combat operations within Nigeria’s borders. Abdullahi warned that such arrangements are unsustainable and could undermine the country’s sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and self-respect if allowed to become a substitute for Nigeria-led security action.
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The ADC spokesperson questioned the extent of Nigeria’s operational control during the airstrikes and cautioned against a scenario in which the country is reduced to what he described as “mere informants” in an operation it ought to be leading. He stressed that Nigeria, having spent trillions of naira on defence and security over the years, should possess the capacity to plan and execute such missions independently if actionable intelligence is available.
Abdullahi also demanded clarity from the federal government on key aspects of the operation, including the number of casualties recorded, the identities of the terrorists reportedly killed, and whether any civilians were affected. He argued that transparency is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring accountability in matters of national security.
“It is in this context that we accept the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes on terrorist locations in Sokoto State only as a desperate measure that must not be allowed to substitute for a Nigeria-led action,” he said. “Desperation must not be allowed to compromise our national sovereignty.”
The ADC further criticised the communication strategy surrounding the incident, noting that initial public awareness of the airstrikes reportedly came from a social media post by the American president rather than a direct address or briefing from Nigeria’s own leadership. According to the party, this sequence of events reinforced perceptions that the Nigerian government was reactive rather than in command of the situation.
Abdullahi accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising revenue generation over core responsibilities such as national security and diplomacy. He warned against confusing strategic collaboration with what he termed “myopic surrender,” arguing that excessive reliance on foreign intervention could weaken Nigeria’s ability to manage its own security challenges in the long run.
“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,” Abdullahi stated.
While reiterating its support for the fight against terrorism, the ADC said it remains deeply concerned about the broader implications of the airstrikes. The party called on the federal government to address the questions raised by the incident and clearly articulate its security strategy going forward, including how Nigeria intends to balance international cooperation with the preservation of its sovereignty and leadership role in counterterrorism operations.
The federal government has yet to release detailed information on casualties or provide further clarification on Nigeria’s operational role in the Sokoto airstrikes.