Presidential silence sparks outrage over US airstrike on Nigerian soil

A broad coalition of civil society organisations has accused the Federal Government of Nigeria of abandoning its constitutional responsibilities following a reported United States airstrike on Nigerian territory on Christmas Day, raising sharp questions about sovereignty, civilian protection, and Presidential leadership.

In a strongly-worded statement issued on Sunday, the groups expressed grave concern over what they described as the silence and absence of Nigeria’s political and military leadership in the aftermath of the operation.

At the centre of the criticism is President Bola Tinubu, whom the coalition accused of failing in his constitutional role as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

According to the organisations, “the decision to allow a foreign military to conduct strike operations within Nigeria represents a dangerous ceding of sovereign authority.”

“They argued that the situation was worsened by the absence of public communication from the President, the Service Chiefs, and the leadership of the National Assembly, leaving the Minister of Foreign Affairs to respond to issues that touch directly on national sovereignty and democratic accountability.”

The coalition cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government.

They said any security operation involving foreign forces must be anchored on transparency, civilian protection and democratic oversight, standards they insist were not met in this case.

While acknowledging the importance of international cooperation against terrorism, the groups called for an urgent review of Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Strategy and its framework for preventing and countering violent extremism.

They said the reported strike exposes possible gaps in policy, coordination, and civilian harm safeguards.

A major concern highlighted is the lack of information provided to Nigerians on the legal basis, scope, and rules of engagement guiding the collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.

The organisations said there had been no official disclosure on who authorised the strikes, what safeguards were in place to protect civilians, or what accountability mechanisms exist for any harm caused.

They also raised alarm over reports that debris from expended munitions fell on farmlands in Jabo area of Tambuwal Local Government Area in Sokoto State and near a hotel in Offa, Kwara State.

According to them, there has been no confirmation that any belligerent targets were actually hit. Although the Nigerian Air Force inaugurated a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Board in July 2025, the coalition said no publicly articulated civilian harm mitigation protocols were presented for the operation.

They noted that modern air operations demand clear standards on target verification, proportionality, post-strike assessments, and accessible complaint and compensation mechanisms for affected civilians.

The statement warned that the government’s handling of the incident risks inflaming religious and communal tensions in an already fragile national environment.

It stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges must not be framed in ways that deepen polarisation or stigmatise communities.

The groups called for transparent investigations into any civilian harm arising from the strikes, public disclosure of findings, prompt assistance to affected communities, and adequate compensation where damage has occurred.

They said failure to take these steps would further widen the trust gap between citizens and the state.

In a pointed conclusion, the coalition said the continued silence of the President, security chiefs and lawmakers is unacceptable.

They argued that if Nigeria’s leadership believes it lacks the capacity to manage internal security without ceding authority to a foreign power, constitutional responsibility demands resignation.

BusinessDay reports that the statement was endorsed by more than 100 civil society organisations and prominent human rights advocates, including Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT, CLEEN Foundation, SBM Intelligence, Yiaga Africa, and several community-based and women’s rights groups across the country.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.