The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has voiced serious concern over the recent airstrikes conducted by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Sokoto State, describing the action as a troubling indicator of governance and security failures under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement released on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party acknowledged the gravity of Nigeria’s security challenges and emphasized that protecting lives and defeating terrorism must remain top national priorities. The ADC said it supports all lawful and effective measures aimed at restoring peace and ensuring the safety of citizens.
However, the party cautioned that allowing foreign military forces to carry out direct combat operations on Nigerian soil raises serious questions about national sovereignty and long-term strategic interests.
“While we support all lawful efforts to save Nigerian lives, we must not allow our desperation today to compromise the sovereignty of our country in whatever form or guise,” the statement read.
The ADC described the AFRICOM airstrikes as an extraordinary and undesirable measure that should not replace a Nigeria-led response to internal security threats. It argued that the development underscores what it sees as the current administration’s inability to decisively address the country’s worsening insecurity.
Abdullahi also criticised the government’s broader approach to governance, saying the situation reflects an administration that treats revenue generation as its primary focus while relegating critical issues such as national security and diplomacy to the background.
The party further faulted the communication surrounding the operation, noting that Nigerians first learned of the airstrike through a social media post by the United States President, with official confirmation from Nigeria coming later through a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It described this as a disturbing lapse in leadership and situational awareness.
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Questioning Nigeria’s role in what the federal government termed a collaborative operation, the ADC argued that limiting Nigeria’s involvement to intelligence provision effectively reduced the country to the role of an informant in an operation it should have led.
The party demanded a clear explanation of Nigeria’s role and the terms of engagement, seeking clarity on the level of operational control exercised by Nigerian forces, the number of terrorists neutralised, and why Nigeria was unable to lead the operation despite years of substantial security spending.
While reaffirming its support for the fight against terrorism, the ADC warned against confusing strategic cooperation with a surrender of responsibility, cautioning that such an approach could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, unity and self-respect. It also urged the government to clearly outline its broader security strategy, noting that a single airstrike cannot resolve Nigeria’s deep-rooted and protracted security challenges.