The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the Federal Government for allowing the United States to publicly disclose details of airstrikes on terrorist targets in Nigeria before Nigerian authorities informed the public, raising concerns over communication protocols and national sovereignty.
In a statement issued on 26 December 2025 by National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, the opposition party noted that Nigerians first learned of the Christmas Day strikes through posts by US President Donald Trump and other American officials on social media.
“Nigerians were notified of the American strike on terrorists’ assets through the verified social media pages of President Trump and other American officials before the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a vague statement many hours later, offering a passive confirmation of the knowledge and cooperation of the Nigerian Government in the operation,” Ememobong said, as reported by Punch Nigeria, Daily Post, and Independent Newspaper.
While appreciating international cooperation against terrorism, the PDP expressed worry over what it termed an “inverted communication approach.” The party argued that such delays do not serve national interests, especially given past reports of foreign military operations in Nigeria without full public disclosure.
“This inverted communication approach does not help the Federal Government or Nigerians in any way, especially when taken against the background that the US military has been reported to have previously entered and operated in Nigeria successfully without the permission and knowledge of the government,” the statement added.
The PDP urged the government to prioritise proactive briefings on security matters to sensitise citizens and maintain trust. It further called for defence agreements with the US to emphasise joint operations, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Nigerian forces, rather than relying primarily on external-led actions.
The criticism follows the US airstrikes in Sokoto State targeting Islamic State affiliates, announced by Trump on 25 December and later confirmed by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of structured intelligence collaboration.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has since clarified that Nigeria provided the intelligence and approved the operation, describing it as a vindication of the administration’s counter-terrorism efforts.
