Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi, has faulted the airstrikes carried out by the United States in collaboration with Nigeria’s military against terrorist groups in some parts of the country, including Sokoto State.
Mr Ningi, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), described the operation as a violation of Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty and a breach of the United Nations Charter.
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He made the remarks on Wednesday during plenary through a motion for personal explanation, which is usually taken before the commencement of legislative business.
The senator argued that such military operations ought to have been conducted with the approval of the National Assembly and in collaboration with local security agencies.
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He alleged that the president failed to brief lawmakers before and after the operation, thereby undermining their constitutional responsibilities.
“Sometimes in December, the United States of America, via its military, took a lead into Nigeria’s territory, which is a complete violation of this document (constitution), which was also a complete breach of the United Nations Charter,” the senator said.
Mr Ningi acknowledged that while the president, as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has the authority to invite foreign military assistance, such action must be carried out with the backing of the National Assembly.
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“What the president can do is to ask such military forces to come into Nigeria and align with their local forces and give them the right directive. Mr President, if we allow this matter and the executive refuses to talk about it , all they say is that they were told, but the legislature must talk despite the good intention of the American military,” he said.
The senator stressed that the National Assembly has a core responsibility and accountability in governance and should not be treated as an appendage of the executive.
“Mr President, this assembly has a core responsibility in governance. This assembly has a core accountability in governance. This assembly is not an appendage of the executive. This assembly is not a department of the executive and therefore, for a proaction intended, the leadership of the National Assembly must be taken along. It is not right,” he added.
The lawmaker further complained that since the National Assembly resumed from the Christmas and New Year recess, lawmakers had not been briefed on the matter.
“This is our second day, we have not heard from the chairman of the National Assembly as regards this serious matter. The president of the Senate and indeed the National Assembly leadership must take a brief from the security agencies as to what happened and why this matter happened, and I hope the leadership will allow the president to hear me,” he said.
He warned that failure to assert legislative oversight could expose lawmakers to external intimidation, insisting that the executive must always brief the leadership of the National Assembly on sensitive security matters.
“If we allow this thing to happen and we pass a law here that is detrimental to any powerful country, the next we’ll hear is that president Akpabio has been hijacked or deputy senate president Barau has been taken out of Nigeria by the powerful military or even the senate leader can be taken away. The executive must at all times brief the leadership of the National Assembly. As (President Donald) Trump is, he always invites the leadership of his assembly before and after an act. I have no knowledge whatsoever whether the National Assembly is taking along .
“Lastly, the American government must be told in clear terms that this is a violation of our territory. Lastly, the president can at any time invite the American or any other power into Nigeria and take a directive but it has to be with our local armed forces, it is not right.”
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said he had intended to brief lawmakers upon resumption of plenary on Tuesday, but the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki disrupted the plan.
Mr Akpabio added that the issue would still be discussed during a closed-door session and noted that the operation was carried out in collaboration with Nigeria’s security agencies.
The airstrike
Nigeria has, for over a decade, relied on international military cooperation, particularly with the United States, in its fight against insurgency, banditry, and terrorist groups operating across different regions of the country. The collaboration has largely focused on intelligence sharing, training, logistics support, and the supply of military equipment to Nigeria’s armed forces.
In December, the joint US–Nigeria operation was carried out in Tangaza and Tambuwal lo
Local Government Areas of Sokoto State. The operation, which took place on Christmas Day, targeted locations believed to be hideouts of Islamic State-linked militants along the Nigeria–Niger border.
The attacks were the result of intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Nigerian military.
In recent years, Tangaza has seen the emergence of a group known as the Lakurawa. Originally a group of foreign herders from Sahelian countries, they have evolved into a terrorist group that imposes taxes on locals and enforces their own version of justice, often clashing with traditional authorities.
US Africa Command said its initial assessment indicated that “multiple” ISIS terrorists were killed at the request of Nigerian authorities.
Nigeria’s foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, later confirmed that President Bola Tinubu approved the strikes and that Nigeria had shared intelligence with the US to ensure their success.
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