•Blames ruling elite and capitalism

By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Movement for a Socialist Alternative (MSA) has faulted the Christmas Day United States airstrike on terrorist targets in Sokoto State, saying the bombing does not threaten Nigeria’s ruling elite or address the conditions fueling insecurity in the country.

In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Aj. Dagga Tolar, and dated December 27, 2025, the group said the strike only exposed what it described as the failure of successive Nigerian governments to protect citizens and secure the country. The statement was sent to News Express via email.

According to MSA, “there is nothing to celebrate or applaud” in the U.S. action, arguing that it merely highlights “the utter bankruptcy of the Tinubu regime and the entire crop of the ruling class” for failing, over more than a decade, to confront armed groups operating within Nigeria’s borders.

The group rejected claims by the federal government that the strike was a joint operation, noting that former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated that he ordered the attack. It said the contradiction further exposed the weakness of the Nigerian state.

“The Tinubu regime, with all the wealth and resources of the country at its disposal, cannot subdue a ragtag armed group,” the statement said, adding that this failure shows the government “cannot be trusted to end the terror threat posed by Boko Haram and other insurgent groups.”

MSA said insecurity worsened under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari despite massive security budgets, pointing to killings in Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue and Kogi states. Citing the Nigerian Security Tracker, the group said about 63,111 Nigerians were killed between 2015 and May 2023.

It added that under the Tinubu administration, “approximately 13,346 people were killed and about 9,207 abducted” between May 2023 and 2024, figures it said underscore the failure of the political elite to fulfil the constitutional duty of safeguarding lives and property.

The socialist group accused the federal government of double standards, noting that Nigeria deployed military force to Benin Republic to counter a coup attempt while insecurity persists domestically. It alleged that sections of the political and military elite benefit from prolonged insecurity through inflated security spending and ransom payments.

“The war on terror is not ending because it is profitable for those in power,” MSA said, claiming that ransom payments and negotiations embolden armed groups rather than dismantle them.

While opposing the U.S. airstrike, the group also argued that terrorism cannot be defeated by military force alone. “No amount of greater force can end the insurgency if the root causes of poverty, unemployment and social deprivation are not addressed,” it said.

MSA warned Nigerians against applauding the U.S. action, saying it risks deepening foreign influence in the country. “For Trump and U.S. imperialism, Nigeria and Africa are arenas for power struggles over natural resources,” the statement said.

The group called on workers and youths to organise politically, urging labour unions to move beyond protests and prepare to take power. “The working masses must look up to themselves, organise politically, and build a party of the working people,” it said.