The Peoples Democratic Party criticised the Federal Government on Friday over the handling of information on United States military strikes in Nigeria. The PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the US announced the terror strikes in Sokoto State before Nigerian authorities addressed citizens, raising concerns about leadership and security communication.
The party reacted after reports showed that the US President, Donald Trump, and other American officials disclosed the airstrikes on social media late Thursday night, while Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs only confirmed the operation hours later. The PDP said this delay left Nigerians relying on foreign sources to learn about a major security action carried out within the country.
According to the opposition party, the Federal Government should have taken responsibility for informing citizens first, instead of reacting after the information was already public. It described the situation as troubling, especially given past claims that foreign forces had operated in Nigeria without clear public knowledge.
The PDP noted that while cooperation with other countries in fighting terrorism is welcome, Nigeria must remain in control of how such sensitive operations are communicated. It warned that allowing foreign governments to break security news before Nigerian authorities weakens public trust and raises questions about coordination.
The party also urged the Federal Government to ensure that any defence agreement with the United States focuses on joint actions that help Nigerian forces gain skills and experience. It added that relying mainly on foreign-led strikes does little to build long-term capacity to address insecurity.
The PDP concluded by calling on the Federal Government to improve transparency and timely communication on security matters, so Nigerians are properly informed about events affecting their safety and sovereignty.