We, the undersigned civil society organisations and leaders, express grave concern and deep alarm over the recent U.S. air strike carried out on Christmas day on Nigerian territory, and the troubling silence, absence, and abdication of responsibility by Nigeria’s political and military leadership in its aftermath.

This event raises fundamental questions about sovereignty, constitutional governance, civilian protection, and the integrity of Nigeria’s social contract.

It is apparent that Nigeria is in a dual crisis of leadership and security, and at the heart of this crisis is the apparent abdication by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of his constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

By inviting a foreign government to manage what is fundamentally an internal security challenge, the President ceded sovereign authority in a manner that undermines Nigeria’s constitutional order. Even more disturbing is that during and after the operation, the President, the Service Chiefs, and the leadership of the National Assembly were either on vacation or completely silent, leaving the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, to publicly rationalise decisions that strike at the core of national sovereignty and democratic accountability. 

This silence reflects a profound breakdown of institutional accountability mechanisms. Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is unequivocal: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” This provision represents a central pillar of Nigeria’s social contract. Any security action, especially one involving foreign military forces, must be grounded in transparency, civilian protection, and democratic oversight. None of these standards were met. 

While we acknowledge the importance of international counterterrorism cooperation, there is an urgent need to critically assess Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST), as well as its Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, in light of the recent U.S. operation on Nigerian soil, to determine whether it aligns with these frameworks or exposes significant gaps within them. 

We are particularly troubled by the severe deficit of information regarding the nature, scope, legal basis, and rules of engagement governing the collaboration between the Nigerian and U.S. governments. Since the incident, Nigerians have not been informed of the basis for authorising the strikes, under what legal framework they were conducted, what safeguards were in place to protect civilians, or what accountability mechanisms exist for harm caused. This opacity fuels mistrust and undermines public confidence in government at a time when trust is already dangerously low.

In addition, at the time of issuing this statement, there has been no confirmation that any actual belligerent targets were hit. Instead, reports that debris from expended munitions fell on farmlands in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel, underscore the very real risks to civilian life and property. While the Nigerian Air Force inaugurated a “Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response (CHMR) Board” in July 2025, no publicly articulated civilian harm mitigation protocols have been presented for this offensive.

In contemporary military operations, particularly those involving air strikes, responsible governance demands clear standards for target verification, proportionality assessments, post-strike damage evaluations, and accessible avenues for civilian complaints, investigation, compensation, and redress. The absence of such frameworks in this operation constitutes a serious governance failure.

We caution that the government’s inept management of this crisis is capable of aggravating narratives that escalate religious and communal tensions in an already fragile national context. Nigeria’s security challenges cannot and must not be framed in ways that deepen polarisation or stigmatise communities. What is required is a united, inclusive, and rights-respecting approach that prioritises peace, social cohesion, and long-term stability.

We emphasise the urgent need to address the harms suffered by civilians as a result of the strike action. This includes transparent investigations, public disclosure of findings, prompt assistance to affected communities, and adequate compensation where harm has occurred. Without these steps, the already wide public trust deficit between citizens and the state will continue to deepen.

Finally, the office of the President carries the fundamental expectation that President Bola Tinubu possesses the capacity, judgment, and resolve to serve as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s armed forces. The authorisation of a foreign military to conduct strikes within Nigerian territory without any public explanation of the necessity or legal basis for such action, coupled with the continued silence of the President, the Service Chiefs, and the National Assembly in the face of these grave developments, is wholly unacceptable. 

If the President and his security leadership have concluded that they lack the capacity to manage Nigeria’s internal security challenges and would rather cede such authority to a foreign power, then constitutional responsibility and democratic integrity demand that they resign.

Nigerians deserve accountable leadership and security rooted in sovereignty, the rule of law, and respect for human life.

Signed:

• 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative
• Abubakar Mohammed
• Accountability Lab
• ACE-Nigeria
• Advocacy Centre for Development
• African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
• African Law Foundation (AFRILAW)
• Alliances for Africa (AFA)
• Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB)
• Amnesty International Nigeria
• Baobab for Women’s Human Rights
• Bauchi Human Rights Network
• BENDEF
• BOCODEP
• BudgIT
• Bwatiye Community Development Association
• Cedar Seed Foundation
• CEE- HOPE
• Centre for Community Excellence (CENCEX )
• Centre for Social Justice
• Centre LSD
• CISLAC
• Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
• Center for Transparency Advocacy
• Chidi Anselm Odinkalu
• Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER)
• Clean Technology Hub
• CLEEN Foundation
• Community Life Project (CLP)
• Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA)
• Companions for the Development of Jibia Local Government Area
• Connected Advocacy
• Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR)
• Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)
• Disabled People in Leadership Initiative and Network of Women with Disabilities
• Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF) 
• Enough Is Enough
• F. S. A. F. C. I
• FEMBUD
• FENRAD
• Gatefield
• Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion
• Global Rights
• Grassroots Development Centre
• HEDA
• HOMEF
• Human Rights Network Jigawa
• Initiative for Social Development
• Keen and Care Initiative (KCI)
• Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre
• Koyenum Immalah Foundation
• Life and Peace Development Organisation
• Media Rights Agenda
• Mowalek Centre for Sustainable Community Development
• Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation
• Nextier SPD (Security, Peace and Development)
• Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI)
• Online Hub NG
• OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative
• Organization for Community Civic Engagement (OCCEN)
• Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN)
• Partnership for Justice and Network of Nigerian Human Rights Defenders
• Policy Alert
• PRAWA International
• Praxis Center
• Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Nigeria
• Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)
• SBM Intelligence
• Sesor Empowerment Initiative to Sesor Empowerment Foundation
• SIPJAD
• Social Action
• Socio-Economic Research and Development Centre
• Sokoto Youth Council
• South Saharan Social Development Organisation
• Stephanie Peacebuilding and Development Foundation (SPADEV)
• Support Initiative for Sustainable Development
• Tap Initiative
• TechHerNG
• The Kukah Centre
• The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED)
• Urban Alert
• We The People
• West African Drug Policy Network (WADPN)
• Woman in Media Communication Initiative (WIM)
• Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMNG)
• Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
• Yiaga Africa
• Yobe Youth Council