The Former Presidential candidate under the APC, Adamu Garba, has made mention over the recent military operation carried out by the United State of America in Nigeria, stating that it undermined the spirit of cooperation intended with the Nigerian Armed Forces

Garba said in a statement posted on X on Sunday that although he has repeatedly called for United States support in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, the airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day fell short of what was expected.

“We had openly advocated for US collaboration with Nigeria on the fight against terrorism, with the premise that the Nigerian military should take the lead, supported by US military, however, what happened on Christmas Day runs counter to our expectations.” He said.

He pointed out that no Nigerian military personnel were present at the base during or before the operation to coordinate with the United State Armed Forces.

“Prior to the lauching of the tomahawk missile, we should have seen Nigerian military personnel on the base where the lauching was taking place, coordinating together with the U.S. military before the launch, however what we witnessed is like the U.S. unilaterally launched the missile, reducing Nigeria’s very capable military as a fire brigade that are expected to handle only the aftermath of the attack.” He added.

Garba also posed a question on how the debris and some missile components remained on site 48 hours after the attack without the Nigerian military presence to evacuate and evaluate the situation.

“I cannot also pinpoint any strong information from the Nigerian military to the public on the joint coordination with the U.S. on this particular attack,” further adding that it was a worrisome situation that all Nigerians need to pay attention to.

Garba also stressed on how no Nigerian is safe if the Nigerian Armed Forces are not the ones coordinating and leading these attacks.

“If Nigeria did not take the lead in the coordination and the routing of these bombing campaign, then no Nigerian is safe in their houses and there could be anytime, anywhere bombing in the name of fighting terrorist.”

Referencing U.S. military operations in Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Garba and Yemen, Garba argued that strikes carried out without proper coordination often worsen terrorism instead of suppressing it.

“The U.S. did the same in Somalia, bombing thee country from their offshore military bases for the past 30 years? Does this help to stop terror in Somalia? Not at all, it further helps to exacerbate the terrorist operation in that country.

“Because the rapid, uncoordinated, unscheduled and unplanned bombing ended up landing in market places , public hospitals , residential buildings, wedding occasions that infuriated the victims, further pushing them to join the terrorist and expand their terror against the state.

“This year alone, the U.S. carried out 37 bombing campaign in Somalia, is this how we expect Nigeria to just allow the U.S. to continue? This happened not just in Somalia, but also in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Libya, all these states are either totally destroyed, or under the control of the very terrorist the U.S. went to fight in the first place.” He said

He stated that stikes carried out without proper coordination often worsen terrorism instead of curbing it.

“Another risk we might be mindful of is the threat of all the terrorist operating in the Sahel. ISWAP, ISGS, MLF, Boko Haram, JNIM, Lakurawa to all unite their forces and confront the “BIG EVIL” as they refer to the U.S. on the Nigerian soil. Do you know what that will mean?.

“Nigerian government should rather sit up and stop struggling to take credit on a single bombing campaign that if care is not taken, will go beyond their control, or perhaps the government may be the first casualty, as we have seen in many countries mentioned above.” He added.

Garba urged that any joint counterterrorism operations should first be guided by an officially approved operational structure approved by the National Assembly.

“Nigeria government need to take lead in this campaign, the U.S. should kindly take a back seat and allow the Nigerians military to steer this operation, guiding the attack while properly respecting our human right and sovereignty.

“Nigerian government and the U.S.government should agreed on a common operational framework governing war on terror in Nigeria, that should be discussed, deliberated in the National Assembly gazetted and before full implementation by the Nigeria security establishment.

“Nigerian security institutions have a combined 16 years of non-stop kinetic and non kinetic activity across the terror operating belt in the country, they know that military solution is just the door opener to take back territory from the insurgents, but the whole of society approach is totally needed to end the threat of terrorist in Nigeria.” He added

“This principle should form part of the National strategy, government to joint program of action between the Nigerian government and the U.S. government on the framework to fight against terrorism, ofcourse Nigeria must, without any opposition, take the lead. Either that, or the U.S. should stay off our sovereign lands, air and sea spaces, completely.” He concluded.

Reports says the strike carried out by the U.S. Navy vessel in the Gulf of Guinea, targeted two Islamic State camps in Sokoto State, leaving debris scattered across nearby farmlands.