By Bunmi Yekini
A coalition of Nigerian civil society groups on Thursday condemned what they described as a U.S. air strike carried out on Nigerian territory on Christmas Day, accusing President Bola Tinubu and the country’s military and political leadership of failing to uphold Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional responsibilities.
In a joint statement signed by more than 100 organisations and prominent civic leaders, the groups said the alleged strike and the government’s silence in its aftermath raised “fundamental questions about sovereignty, constitutional governance, civilian protection, and the integrity of Nigeria’s social contract.”
The groups accused Tinubu, who is constitutionally the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, of abdicating his role by allowing a foreign power to intervene in what they said was an internal security matter, without public explanation or democratic oversight.
“It is apparent that Nigeria is in a dual crisis of leadership and security,” the statement said, adding that neither the president, the service chiefs nor the leadership of the National Assembly had publicly addressed the incident.
The statement said the absence of official communication had left the foreign affairs minister, Yusuf Tuggar, to defend decisions that “strike at the core of national sovereignty and democratic accountability.”
The organisations said Nigerians had not been informed of the legal basis for the alleged operation, the rules of engagement, or the safeguards put in place to protect civilians. They warned that the lack of transparency risked further eroding public trust.
While acknowledging the role of international cooperation in counterterrorism, the groups called for an urgent review of Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Strategy to determine whether it permits such operations or exposes gaps in oversight and civilian protection.
The statement also cited reports that debris from expended munitions fell on farmlands in Jabo, in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and near a hotel in Offa, Kwara State, raising concerns about risks to civilians and property. It said there had been no confirmation that any militant targets were hit.
The groups criticised the absence of publicly articulated civilian harm mitigation protocols, despite the Nigerian Air Force’s inauguration of a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Board earlier this year.
They warned that poor handling of the incident could inflame religious or communal tensions in an already fragile security environment, and called for transparent investigations, public disclosure of findings and compensation for any civilians harmed.
“The authorisation of a foreign military to conduct strikes within Nigerian territory without any public explanation of the necessity or legal basis for such action is wholly unacceptable,” the statement said.
It added that if Nigeria’s leaders believed they lacked the capacity to manage the country’s security challenges, “constitutional responsibility and democratic integrity demand that they resign.”
The Nigerian presidency and the defence authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.