By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government over what it described as poor public communication surrounding reported United States military strikes against terrorists in parts of northwest Nigeria.
The opposition party urged the Tinubu administration to adopt a more proactive and transparent method of addressing sensitive national security matters.
Reports had earlier emerged that on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, former United States President Donald Trump announced that American forces carried out what he called “numerous precise strikes” against terrorist elements in northwest Nigeria. He claimed that the targets were militants responsible for attacks on Christians in the region.
Trump stated that the operation took place under his authority as Commander-in-Chief. He said the strikes focused on ISIS-linked fighters who have operated for years in areas affected by violence and insecurity.
According to him, the militants had been “viciously killing, primarily innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.” He also said he had earlier warned the groups to halt the killings or face consequences.
The Nigerian government later acknowledged that strikes had taken place in parts of northern Nigeria through the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Authorities, however, did not disclose details about the operation or clarify the level of Nigeria’s involvement.
In a statement issued on Friday, December 26, 2025, by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said Nigerians first became aware of the reported operation through verified social media accounts linked to Trump and other American officials. The party said this happened long before any formal reaction came from Nigerian authorities.
The party noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only released what it described as a “vague statement” several hours later. The statement, according to the PDP, merely offered passive confirmation that Nigeria was aware of and cooperated in the operation.
“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 government does,” the statement read.
The PDP warned that such an “inverted communication approach” does not protect the interests of Nigeria or its citizens. The party referred to reports that the United States military had in the past entered Nigerian territory and carried out operations without the prior consent or knowledge of Nigerian authorities.
The opposition party said the Federal Government ought to have taken the lead in informing the public about the operation. It added that such an approach would have helped in properly sensitising Nigerians instead of waiting to confirm information that was already circulating widely.
“The government should not be in a position of merely reacting to foreign announcements on security operations within its territory, unless it was taken unawares like the rest of the citizens,” the party stated.