By RismadarVoice Media
December 26, 2025
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized the Federal Government for allowing the United States to disclose details of recent terror strikes carried out on Nigerian soil, before Nigerian authorities addressed the nation, describing the development as a disturbing failure of security communication, national leadership.
In a statement issued on Friday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ini Ememobong, said the Federal Government’s delayed response forced Nigerians to rely on foreign sources for information on critical security operations taking place within their own territory.
The criticism follows reports that news of the United States military airstrikes against terrorist targets in Sokoto State was first made public through verified social media posts by U.S. President Donald Trump and other American officials late on Thursday night, several hours before Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement acknowledging the operation.
According to the PDP, the Federal Government ought to have taken the lead in announcing the development to properly informed Nigerians, rather than issuing a belated confirmation of reports already circulating in the public domain.
“Nigerians were notified of the American strike on terrorists’ assets through the verified social media pages of President Trump, 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,” the statement read.
While acknowledging the importance of international cooperation in combating terrorism, the opposition party expressed concern over what it described as an inverted communication structure that allows foreign governments break news of security operations conducted within Nigeria.
“While international cooperation in the fight against high crimes like terrorism is very much appreciated, the Peoples Democratic Party is deeply concerned about a communication structure where foreign powers break the news of security operations in our country before our own government does,” the party said.
The PDP noted that the development was particularly troubling against the backdrop of past reports, suggesting that foreign military forces had previously operated in Nigeria without the prior knowledge or approval of the government.
The party further called on the Federal Government to ensure that its defence agreement with the United States prioritizes joint operations aimed at building local capacity, rather than reliance on wholly foreign-led precision strikes.
“The Federal Government should have been the first to report the operation in order to properly sensitize the Nigerian populace, instead of waiting to confirm news already in public circulation, unless it was taken unawares like the rest of the citizens,” the statement added.
The PDP urged the Federal Government to pursue defence partnerships that promote knowledge sharing, joint operational planning, experiential learning, which it said would better equip Nigeria to combat insecurity in a sustainable manner.
