The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government over what it described as a disturbing communication failure following a reported United States military strike on terrorist assets, insisting that Nigerians deserved prompt and transparent briefing from their own government.
In a statement issued by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party expressed deep concern that Nigerians first learned about the operation through verified social media platforms of US President Donald Trump and other American officials, while Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs only issued what it termed a vague confirmation several hours later.
The PDP said the development exposed a worrying inversion of national security communication, where foreign powers announced security operations affecting Nigeria before the Nigerian government addressed its own citizens.
According to the party, while international cooperation in the fight against terrorism remains important, such cooperation must not erode Nigeria’s sovereignty or sideline its institutions in matters of national security.
The party warned that delayed and unclear communication from the Federal Government fuels speculation, anxiety, and misinformation among citizens, particularly in a country already grappling with widespread insecurity.
The PDP further noted that the situation was more troubling given past reports that the US military had previously conducted operations on Nigerian soil without the knowledge or approval of the Nigerian government, raising questions about oversight, consent, and national control of security matters.
“The Federal Government should have been the first to break the news in order to properly sensitise Nigerians, rather than waiting to confirm information already circulating in the public space,” the party stated.
The opposition party argued that the silence or slow response of government authorities created the impression that Nigeria was either unprepared, uninformed, or sidelined in critical security decisions affecting its territory.
Beyond criticism, the PDP also offered recommendations, urging the Federal Government to ensure that any defence agreement with the United States prioritises joint operations that promote intelligence sharing, skills transfer, and experiential learning for Nigerian security forces.
The party stressed that Nigeria’s long-term security interests would be better served through collaborative frameworks that strengthen local capacity, rather than relying solely on externally driven “precision attacks” that do not address the root causes of insecurity.
Edited by Olaolu Fawole, Volunteer Editor
