Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has publicly condemned the recent U.S. military airstrikes in northwest Nigeria, characterising them as reckless, imperialist and a violation of national sovereignty. His remarks add a sharp critical voice to the growing national debate over foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s protracted security crisis.
In a statement posted on his social media accounts, Sowore responded to announcements by former U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. military sources that American forces conducted airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Sokoto State on Christmas Day — actions framed by Washington as part of long-standing counterterrorism efforts and conducted in cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
Sowore dismissed claims by the Nigerian government that the strikes were carried out with Abuja’s informed consent, arguing instead that they exposed a dangerous erosion of Nigeria’s authority over its own territory. “Although the Nigerian government now claims it was aware and describes the operation as a joint effort with vague ‘international partners,’ it is evident that the strikes were carried out without the genuine authority or informed consent of the weaklings masquerading as government,” he wrote.
He went further to criticise both the United States and Nigeria’s leadership, asserting that the actions reflected a lack of respect for Nigerian lives and a disregard for the country’s sovereignty. Sowore said the strikes underscored the failure of Nigeria’s political leadership to protect its citizens and territory without external intervention. “It is deeply troubling that Nigeria … lacks the capable and sovereign leadership required to protect its people,” he said, adding that the country had been reduced to “a bystander while its sovereignty is violated.”
Sowore also warned that reliance on foreign military action to solve Nigeria’s security challenges was misguided and could exacerbate the situation. His critique echoes broader concerns among some civil society voices, who argue that foreign air operations — even when targeting extremist groups — risk civilian harm, blurred accountability, and diminishing the role of Nigerian institutions in shaping security outcomes.
The activist’s comments arrive amid a complex and divisive national conversation over the recent strikes. The U.S. air operations, publicly acknowledged by Nigerian authorities and international media, were aimed at Islamic State militants operating in Nigeria’s northwest — a region that has seen a troubling expansion of extremist activity beyond its traditional northeastern strongholds. Washington framed the strikes as necessary to counter groups accused of killing civilians; Nigeria characterised the action as part of ongoing intelligence sharing and security cooperation.
Critics like Sowore, however, maintain that even cooperative arrangements must be transparent and grounded in genuine consent if they are to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and democratic norms. The debate highlights deep public concern about national autonomy, the human cost of foreign military actions, and the broader strategy for addressing insurgency, banditry and extremist violence affecting communities across the country.
As discussions continue among policymakers, activists and analysts, Sowore’s outspoken stance contributes to a wider examination of how foreign involvement intersects with domestic security policy and the protection of Nigerian citizens. The evolving discourse underscores the sensitive balance between international cooperation and national agency in confronting shared security threats.
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