THE Senate has announced plans to hold an executive briefing on the United States air strikes carried out on December 25 against terrorist targets in Sokoto State, following concerns raised by Senator Abdul Ningi over the alleged exclusion of the National Assembly from prior consultations.
Raising the matter under Order 42 (Matters of Privilege) during plenary, Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, described the strikes as a breach of Nigeria’s territorial integrity and insisted that the legislature should have been informed before the operation was executed.
He argued that the National Assembly, constitutionally empowered to oversee issues of national security and foreign military involvement, was sidelined.
The senator warned that allowing the executive arm to approve foreign military actions without legislative input could set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging other countries to carry out similar operations without due process.
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed that arrangements had already been made to brief lawmakers in a closed-door session.
He explained that the briefing was postponed due to the suspension of legislative activities in honour of the late Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who died on December 31, 2025.
Akpabio noted that security matters should not be discussed openly and assured senators that a new date would be fixed for the executive session.
The U.S. air strikes, conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities, targeted camps linked to the Islamic State group.
The U.S. Africa Command confirmed that several ISIS fighters were killed during the operation.