The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes carried out in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, describing the incident as a clear sign of government failure on security.
A statement issued on Thursday, signed by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said while it supports all lawful efforts to protect Nigerian lives, the involvement of a foreign military force carrying out direct attacks on Nigerian soil shows what it called the administration’s inability to handle the country’s security challenges.
The ADC warned that allowing foreign troops to conduct military operations inside Nigeria is not sustainable and could damage the country’s sovereignty and long-term strategic interests.
It argued that Nigeria should be leading such operations, not playing a secondary role.
According to the party, the government’s claim of “collaboration” with the United States raises serious questions. It said Nigeria appeared to act mainly as an intelligence source, rather than being in full control of the operation. The ADC insisted that Nigerians deserve to know who planned the strike, who executed it, and who was in charge on the ground.
The party also criticised how information about the airstrike was handled, noting that Nigerians first learned of the attack through a social media post by the U.S. President.
It described this as troubling, especially given the sensitivity of a foreign military strike within the country.
ADC further demanded that the federal government clearly state how many terrorists were actually killed, their identities, and the immediate results of the operation.
It questioned why, despite huge spending on security over the years, Nigeria could not lead the mission if it already had the intelligence.
The party cautioned against confusing security cooperation with what it called a quiet surrender of responsibility, warning that such actions could weaken national unity and Nigeria’s self-respect.
