The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the airstrikes carried out by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on suspected ISIS terrorists in Sokoto State, describing the development as a sign of “historic incompetence” in governance.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said while the ADC supports all lawful efforts aimed at protecting Nigerian lives, the resort to foreign military operations on Nigerian soil exposes deep governance and security failures.
Abdullahi warned that allowing external forces to conduct direct military operations within Nigeria is unsustainable and could seriously undermine the country’s long-term strategic and sovereign interests.
The opposition party also questioned Nigeria’s actual role in the operation, cautioning that the country must not be reduced to the position of a mere informant in a military exercise it ought to be leading.
According to the ADC spokesperson, the Federal Government owes Nigerians clear explanations on the level of Nigeria’s operational control, details of the casualties recorded, and verifiable information on the number and identities of terrorists neutralised during the airstrikes.
“This is a show of historic incompetence on the part of Tinubu’s administration,” Abdullahi said.
“The African Democratic Congress recognises the serious security challenges confronting Nigeria and affirms that the protection of Nigerian lives and the defeat of terrorism must remain a central national priority.
“We therefore support all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security.”
However, he reiterated the party’s opposition to the physical deployment of foreign military forces for combat operations on Nigerian territory, warning that desperation in tackling insecurity must not come at the expense of national sovereignty.
DAILY POST reports that the United States carried out a series of airstrikes targeting ISIS elements in Sokoto State in the early hours of Friday.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has stated that the United States informed and carried Nigeria along before executing the operation.
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