The Nigerian Senate is set to hold an executive session to address concerns raised by Senator Abdul Ningi regarding the December 25 U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State.
The Nigerian Senate has announced plans to hold an executive briefing following controversial United States airstrikes targeting Islamic State-linked camps in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025. The decision comes after Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) raised a Point of Order, labeling the military operation a violation of Nigeria’s territorial integrity. Ningi argued that the executive arm bypassed constitutional requirements by failing to consult the National Assembly before allowing foreign military intervention on domestic soil.
During the plenary, Senator Ningi expressed grave concerns over the lack of legislative oversight, warning that the unilateral approval of such strikes sets a dangerous precedent for future foreign engagements. “It is not right. If we begin to dilly dally, it becomes a problem. The leadership of the National Assembly should be briefed by the security agencies on what actually happened. This is a violation of our territorial integrity,” Ningi stated. He further cautioned that allowing such operations without parliamentary involvement could encourage other global powers to act similarly within Nigerian borders.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that the legislative leadership had already arranged for a high-level security briefing to address the incident. Akpabio noted that the scheduled executive session had been temporarily postponed due to the suspension of activities in honor of the late Senator Godiya Akwashiki. The Senate is expected to convene the closed-door session shortly to evaluate the coordination between Nigerian authorities and the U.S. military regarding the Christmas Day strikes.