The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a sharp rebuke to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following a contentious U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrike conducted in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025. The opposition party vehemently criticised the operation, characterising it as a stark indicator of the government’s perceived failure in addressing Nigeria’s escalating security challenges and demanding immediate, comprehensive details from the presidency. This incident has ignited a national debate over foreign military involvement on Nigerian soil.
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, articulated the party’s position in a statement released on Thursday. While affirming support for all legitimate endeavours aimed at safeguarding Nigerian lives and property, Abdullahi underscored profound concerns regarding the direct engagement of a foreign military entity in combat operations within the nation’s borders. The party views this as a critical demonstration of the current administration’s alleged inability to effectively manage the country’s multifaceted security landscape, which includes persistent insurgency and banditry.
The ADC issued a stern warning against the sustainability of allowing foreign troops to conduct military operations inside Nigeria, cautioning that such practices could severely compromise the nation’s sovereignty and undermine its long-term strategic interests. The party argued forcefully that Nigeria, as a sovereign nation with significant regional influence, should unequivocally lead any security operations on its territory, rather than assuming a subordinate or secondary role in missions of critical national importance.
Further scrutiny was directed at the government’s assertion of “collaboration” with the United States regarding the Sokoto airstrike. The ADC contended that this purported partnership raised significant questions about the true extent of Nigeria’s control and agency in the operation. According to the party, the available information suggested that Nigeria primarily functioned as an intelligence provider, with the actual execution and command of the strike seemingly resting with the foreign entity, thereby diminishing Nigeria’s operational oversight.
In light of these concerns, the ADC has made specific and urgent demands for transparency from the federal government. The party insisted that the Nigerian populace deserves a full account of the operation, including explicit details on who conceived the plan for the airstrike, who was responsible for its execution, and who held the ultimate command authority on the ground during the engagement. These demands reflect a broader call for accountability regarding sensitive national security matters.
The manner in which information concerning the airstrike was disseminated also drew severe condemnation from the ADC. The party highlighted the troubling fact that Nigerians reportedly first learned about the significant military action on their own territory through a social media post by the U.S. President. This communication lapse was deemed particularly egregious given the inherent sensitivity and geopolitical implications of a foreign military strike occurring within Nigeria’s sovereign airspace.
The ADC further pressed the federal government to provide precise figures and identities of the terrorists reportedly neutralised in the operation, alongside a clear articulation of the immediate tactical outcomes and strategic impact of the strike. The party questioned the rationale behind Nigeria’s apparent inability to lead such a mission, especially considering the substantial financial investments made in security infrastructure and intelligence gathering over recent years.
The opposition party cautioned against a potential misinterpretation of security cooperation, distinguishing it sharply from what it described as a “quiet surrender of responsibility.” The ADC warned that actions perceived to relinquish national control over security operations could have detrimental consequences, potentially weakening national unity, eroding public trust, and undermining Nigeria’s self-respect and standing on the international stage. The call for detailed answers continues to resonate across the political spectrum.
