A powerful alliance of Nigerian civil society organisations has raised an alarm over the deafening silence from the nation's highest political and military offices following an alleged United States military airstrike on Nigerian territory.
Demand for Presidential Accountability
The incident, which was reported to have occurred on Christmas Day, has prompted serious questions about Nigeria's sovereignty and the government's duty to protect its citizens. In a strongly-worded joint statement released on Monday, 29 December 2025, the coalition accused President Bola Tinubu of a failure of leadership for not addressing the public directly as Commander-in-Chief.
The groups argue that allowing a foreign military power to operate on Nigerian soil for an internal security matter, without a clear and public explanation, strikes at the very foundation of the country's constitutional order. They expressed deep concern that neither the President, the service chiefs, nor the leadership of the National Assembly had made themselves available or spoken out in the wake of the reported operation.
This left Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, as the sole senior official to respond publicly to an issue the CSOs describe as being at the heart of national sovereignty.
Constitutional Breach and Security Concerns
The organisations pointed to a specific constitutional provision to underline their grievance. They cited Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. The collective silence from key institutions, they stated, reflects a dangerous breakdown of this fundamental accountability.
While acknowledging the value of international cooperation in fighting terrorism, the coalition insisted that such engagements must be transparent, lawful, and subject to democratic oversight. They have called for an urgent review of Nigeria's National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) and the National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism to ascertain if the reported operation aligns with these established frameworks.
Opacity and Civilian Risk
A major point of contention is the complete lack of information regarding the legal basis, scope, and rules of engagement for the alleged strike. The CSOs warned that this opacity is further eroding public trust in the government's security apparatus.
They highlighted disturbing reports that debris from expended munitions fell on farmlands in Jabo, within the Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and near a hotel in Offa, Kwara State. These incidents raise grave concerns about risks to civilian life and property.
The statement noted a particular irony: despite the Nigerian Air Force inaugurating a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Board in July 2025, no publicly known civilian protection protocols were presented for this specific operation.
The coalition cautioned that the government's handling of this incident could inadvertently aggravate existing religious and communal tensions. They stressed that Nigeria's security challenges must never be framed in a manner that deepens national polarisation.
The groups concluded with clear demands: transparent investigations, public disclosure of findings, immediate assistance to affected communities, and fair compensation where harm has been proven. The statement was endorsed by several prominent organisations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT, CLEEN Foundation, Media Rights Agenda, Yiaga Africa, CISLAC, SBM Intelligence, the Kukah Centre, and Enough Is Enough.
