The (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government for failing to promptly inform Nigerians about the recent United States airstrikes in the North-West before the announcement was made by U.S. President .
The controversy followed a post by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Thursday, in which he disclosed that U.S. forces had carried out airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in North-West Nigeria, killing several insurgents. The disclosure quickly gained international attention before the Nigerian authorities officially reacted.
Hours after Trump’s announcement, the confirmed that the strikes indeed took place, stating that they were conducted in collaboration with Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
However, the opposition party argued that the sequence of communication raised serious concerns about transparency, sovereignty, and crisis communication. In a statement issued on Friday, PDP spokesperson said the Federal Government should have been the first to brief Nigerians on such a sensitive military operation.
“The Federal Government should have been the first to report the news in order to properly sensitise the Nigerian populace, instead of waiting to confirm news already in public circulation, unless they were taken unawares like the rest of the citizens,” Ememobong said.
Beyond the issue of timing, the PDP noted that security operations involving foreign forces on Nigerian soil demand clear, proactive communication to prevent speculation, misinformation, and public anxiety. The party warned that allowing a foreign leader to break such news undermines public confidence in national institutions and fuels questions about who truly controls the narrative of Nigeria’s security operations.
Political analysts say the episode reflects a broader challenge in Nigeria’s security communication strategy, especially as international partners become more visibly involved in counterterrorism efforts against armed groups operating in the North-West and other troubled regions of the country.
As insecurity continues to dominate national discourse, the PDP urged the government to adopt a more transparent and citizen-focused approach, stressing that Nigerians deserve timely and accurate information on matters that directly affect national security, sovereignty, and public safety.