President Bola Tinubu.
By Dianabasi Effiong
The Democratic Front (TDF) has welcomed the military collaboration between the U.S. and Nigerian authorities in the air strikes against terrorists in Sokoto state.
The TDF made this known in a statement by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo.
TDF noted that President Bola Tinubu gave his go-ahead before the coordinated American precision strikes were carried out.
It said: “We see the airstrikes as a commendable outcome of the ongoing Nigeria/United States collaboration on security and intelligence sharing in the country.
”It feels great to note that contrary to the initial misunderstanding of insecurity in Nigeria by the U S President, Donald Trump, both countries resolved to collaborate as part of efforts to eliminate terrorists, and also strengthen regional security in the West-African sub-region.
”For us, it is a demonstration of the beauty of international collaboration, especially as the coordinated airstrikes were authorised by President Bola Tinubu after weeks of joint intelligence and surveillance operations by US and Nigerian forces.
”We are aware that the strikes were launched by the Americans on the orders of President Trump, but the Nigerian authorities, led by President Tinubu, still had to give the go-ahead with a view to ensuring that the civilian population was not affected.
”And although details are still emerging on the impact of the airstrikes, it was reassuring that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had emphasised that the strikes were designed to weaken terrorist networks while minimising civilian casualties.”
The group also stated that, contrary to disinformation, the US airstrikes were approved by President Bola Tinubu.
”We also acknowledged that Foreign Affairs Minister Yussuf Tuggar had noted within hours of the strikes that he was in touch with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for several minutes before the strike, during which they both agreed to seek President Tinubu’s approval for the air strikes.
”We also note that the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, was emphatic in a post on X that the air strikes were carried out in ‘coordination with Nigerian authorities,’ and subsequently expressed gratitude for ‘their ‘support & cooperation.
”All of these show that the strikes were indeed conducted at the behest of the Nigerian government so the question of violation of the country’s territorial integrity does not arise.
”We are aware that before Thursday’s airstrikes, there had been joint intelligence gathering operations via ISR aircraft flying over North West and North East Nigeria for several weeks.
”So we make bold to say that this is a culmination of the readiness of the President Bola Tinubu administration to partner with the international community to stem the tide of insecurity contrary to the narrative by opposition elements,” it said.
The group added that there is a possibility of more airstrikes on terrorist locations in the coming weeks while rallying support for the Tinubu administration in its quest to make the country safer.
