ABUJA, Nigeria — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a stinging critique of the Tinubu administration, accusing the federal government of “outsourcing” national security after United States forces conducted airstrikes in Sokoto State on Christmas Day.
The strikes, executed by US Africa Command (AFRICOM), targeted ISIS-linked insurgents (specifically the Lakurawa group) in the North-West. However, the opposition party argues that the operation has exposed a “deep and embarrassing weakness” in Nigeria’s military autonomy.
“Informants in Our Own Land”
The ADC expressed shock that a sovereign nation like Nigeria, which has spent trillions of Naira on defense over the last decade, appears to be playing a secondary role to foreign forces on its own soil.
“It is a national embarrassment that the first official confirmation of a military operation in Sokoto came from US President Donald Trump’s social media, rather than from our own Commander-in-Chief or security chiefs,” the party stated.
The Intelligence Gap
The party raised critical questions about the Nigerian military’s leadership. If intelligence about these terrorist camps was available, the ADC asked:
- Why didn’t Nigerian forces lead the strike?
- Are we becoming “mere informants” for foreign powers?
- What is the true extent of foreign military involvement in our borders?
The Human & Political Cost
While the government has described the strikes as a “joint precision operation,” the ADC warned that such reliance on outsiders weakens public trust and undermines the authority of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The party is now demanding a full breakdown of the operation, including the casualty count and the legal framework that allowed US missiles to be fired into Nigerian territory.
Quick Facts: The Sokoto Strike
The Controversy: First announced by the US presidency before the Nigerian government spoke.
Date: December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day).
Target: ISIS-linked “Lakurawa” camps in Bauni Forest, Tangaza LGA.
Method: US Navy Tomahawk missiles and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
