PDP Condemns Tinubu Govt’s ‘Poor Communication’ On US Strikes In Nigeria, Says Trump Broke News First
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its handling of public communication regarding the United States’ military strikes against terrorists in northwest Nigeria.
The opposition party called on the government to adopt a more proactive and transparent approach to addressing sensitive security matters.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, President Donald Trump said the U.S. carried out what he described as “numerous precise strikes” against terrorists in northwest Nigeria, claiming they were responsible for killing Christians.
Trump said the operation was conducted under his authority as Commander-in-Chief and targeted ISIS-linked fighters operating in parts of Nigeria that have suffered years of violence and insecurity.
According to Trump, the militants had been “viciously killing, primarily innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.” He added that he had previously warned the groups to stop the killings or face consequences.
The Nigerian government later confirmed, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, that strikes had occurred in parts of northern Nigeria.
However, authorities did not provide details on the nature of the operation or the extent of Nigeria’s involvement.
In a press statement issued on Friday, December 26, 2025, by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said Nigerians first learned about the reported American strike through verified social media accounts of former U.S. President Donald Trump and other American officials, long before any official response from the Nigerian government.
The PDP noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs only released a “vague statement” several hours later, which merely offered a passive confirmation of Nigeria’s awareness of, and cooperation 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 party warned that such an “inverted communication approach” does not serve the interests of either the Nigerian government or Nigerian citizens, particularly given reports that the U.S. military had, in the past, entered and operated within Nigeria without the prior permission or knowledge of the authorities.
According to the PDP, the Nigerian government ought to have been the first to officially inform Nigerians about the operation in order to properly sensitize the public, rather than waiting to confirm information that was already widely circulated.
“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.
The PDP further called on the Nigerian government to ensure that any defence agreement with the United States prioritizes joint operations.
The party stressed that such arrangements would promote knowledge sharing and experiential learning for Nigerian security forces.
This, the party said, would help Nigeria combat insecurity in a more sustainable manner, instead of relying on what it described as fully externally led “precision attacks
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