The Nigerian government has come under criticism from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for not disclosing the US airstrikes in the country’s North-West region before President Donald Trump announced it on social media. The US strikes, which resulted in the killing of several terrorists, were revealed by Trump on Thursday, with the Nigerian government later confirming the attacks and stating that they were carried out in collaboration with the US.

According to the PDP’s spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the Federal Government should have been the first to inform Nigerians about the development, rather than waiting to confirm the news after it had already been made public by the US authorities. Ememobong expressed concern over the communication structure, where foreign powers break the news of security operations in Nigeria before the government does.

The PDP stated that the “passive confirmation” of the Nigerian government’s knowledge and cooperation in the operation is concerning, particularly given the US military’s previous reported operations in Nigeria without the government’s permission or knowledge. The party emphasized the need for effective communication, citing the importance of the government being proactive in sharing information with the public.

The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, confirmed that the operation in Sokoto was conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, also disclosed that the Nigerian government approved the airstrikes and provided intelligence to the US. Tuggar stated that the operation was a joint effort and not targeted at any specific religion.

The development comes after President Trump expressed concerns over the threat of radical Islamic terrorism in Nigeria, which he described as an “existential threat” amounting to “genocide” against Christians. The US strikes have been seen as a significant development in the fight against terrorism in the region, with the Nigerian government acknowledging the importance of international cooperation in addressing the issue.