The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as an example of “historic incompetence” following U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) airstrikes in Sokoto State on Friday.

In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, acknowledged the importance of lawful measures to protect Nigerians but attributed the foreign military operation to a failure of governance.

Abdullahi warned that permitting external forces to conduct direct military operations on Nigerian soil is unsustainable and could compromise the country’s long-term strategic interests.

The ADC also questioned Nigeria’s role in the operation, cautioning that the nation should not be relegated to the position of mere informant in an exercise it should be leading. The party urged the Federal Government to clarify details about operational control, casualties, and the number and identity of terrorists neutralized in the airstrikes.

“This is a show of historic incompetence by Tinubu’s administration. The African Democratic Congress recognizes the serious security challenges confronting Nigeria and emphasizes that protecting Nigerian lives and defeating terrorism must remain a central national priority. We therefore support all lawful and effective measures aimed at saving lives and restoring security,” the statement said.

Abdullahi reiterated ADC’s opposition to the physical deployment of foreign military forces in Nigeria, stressing that national sovereignty must not be compromised in the face of security challenges.

The airstrikes targeted ISIS terrorists in Sokoto in the early hours of Friday. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, had previously stated that the United States had coordinated with Nigeria before conducting the operations.