The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has expressed concern over a reported U.S. military strike on alleged Islamic State (ISIL) targets in Sokoto State, warning that the development raises serious questions about Nigeria’s sovereignty, transparency and control over its own security operations.
In a statement issued Saturday, MPAC said it unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and supports efforts to eliminate violent extremist groups across Nigeria. However, the organisation said the manner in which news of the strike emerged was deeply troubling.
According to MPAC, Nigerians first learned of the operation through announcements from Washington rather than from their own government. The group described this sequence as a significant diplomatic and political lapse, arguing that sensitive military actions carried out on Nigerian soil should be communicated first by Nigerian authorities.
“When foreign capitals announce military actions within Nigeria before Abuja does, it raises fundamental questions about authority and national dignity,” the group said, adding that a government in full command of its security architecture should not allow public accountability to be driven by foreign briefings.
MPAC also questioned official explanations suggesting that Nigerian intelligence contributed to the operation while the United States carried out the strike due to its superior “precision” capabilities. The group argued that Nigeria has previously demonstrated the capacity to project military power, including beyond its borders, and should therefore be able to conduct operations within its own territory.
The organisation cautioned against what it described as a slide from intelligence cooperation into operational dependency, stressing that strategic partnerships should not undermine national control of security decisions.
Drawing on past global experiences, MPAC pointed to U.S. military interventions in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, noting that operations framed as precision strikes often resulted in significant civilian casualties. It also recalled earlier rhetoric from U.S. political leaders about potential intervention in Nigeria, which it said contributed to public unease.
MPAC further emphasised that most Nigerians killed by terrorism have been Muslims, warning against narratives that frame counterterrorism efforts along religious lines. Such narratives, it said, risk deepening divisions and creating further instability.
“Security is the primary duty of any government, and it cannot be subcontracted,” the statement said, adding that reliance on foreign military assets to enforce peace within Nigeria could signal a lack of confidence in national institutions and armed forces.
The group called on the federal government to urgently clarify the legal, operational and diplomatic basis for the reported strike, reassure citizens that Nigeria’s sovereignty remains intact, and recommit to building a security architecture that is Nigerian-led, Nigerian-controlled and Nigerian-accountable.
The statement was signed by MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor.
