Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly criticised reports that the United States carried out airstrikes on Nigerian soil on Christmas Day, describing the development as a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty and a reflection of weak leadership.
Reacting to statements credited to U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Sowore said the reported attacks—purportedly targeting terrorist groups in northwest Nigeria—were carried out without the genuine authority or informed consent of the Nigerian government.
Although the Federal Government later claimed it was aware of the operation and characterised it as a joint effort involving unnamed “international partners,” Sowore dismissed the explanation, accusing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of lacking the capacity to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
According to Sowore, reports indicating that a strike hit a village in Sokoto State raise serious concerns about civilian safety and the intentions behind the operation. He argued that the U.S. president under whose authority the strikes occurred neither understands nor prioritises the lives of Nigerians.
“It is deeply troubling that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, lacks the capable and sovereign leadership required to protect its people and its territory,” Sowore said, adding that the country had been reduced to a passive observer while its sovereignty was allegedly violated.
He maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be resolved through foreign military interventions directed from abroad, insisting that only “true, tested, and informed leadership” within the country can effectively safeguard Nigerians.
Sowore’s comments add to growing public debate over the reported U.S. military action in northwest Nigeria, as questions persist over transparency, civilian impact, and the legal basis for any foreign operations on Nigerian soil. Chronicles Reporters will continue to follow developments.