The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration over the recent United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes carried out in Sokoto State, calling for a detailed account of casualties and operational specifics.
In a statement released on Friday, the ADC said the administration’s handling of the December 25 airstrike, which targeted suspected terrorist positions in the northwest state, has raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s security leadership and national sovereignty.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Nigerians have a right to know precisely how many militants were neutralised, the nature of Nigeria’s involvement and what role its security forces played in the operation. The ADC described the apparent reliance on foreign military action as a sign of “historic incompetence” by the Tinubu administration in tackling terrorism independently.
“We support all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security,” the party said, while stressing that foreign military operations on Nigerian soil should not replace Nigeria-led security efforts. It warned against allowing desperation to undermine the country’s sovereignty, insisting that collaboration must not equate to loss of control.
The ADC also criticised how information about the strike was communicated to the public, noting that details first emerged via foreign sources rather than direct, clear briefings from Nigeria’s leadership. The party’s statement underscored the need for transparency, accountability and a clear legal framework for any foreign military involvement.
Meanwhile, official responses from Nigerian state authorities indicate that the Sokoto government reported no civilian casualties in the airstrikes, and that the operation targeted terrorist strongholds in the Tangaza and Tambuwal Local Government Areas of the state.
The ADC’s comments come amid broader national debate about the role of foreign forces in Nigeria’s security operations and calls for the Federal Government to fully disclose the terms and outcomes of the December 25 action.
