Social commentator and activist, Moleye Sowore, has raised concerns over what he described as a growing foreign military influence in Nigeria, alleging that recent developments point to an attempt by the United States to assert control over the country’s airspace.
In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on February 9, 2026 at about 9:52 p.m, Sowore claimed that the establishment of a United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) base was imminent. He further linked this to past United States military actions, alleging that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Nigeria was carried out under the pretext of addressing a so-called “Christian genocide.”
According to Sowore, such actions were part of a broader strategy by the United States to position itself for greater control over Nigeria’s security architecture, particularly its airspace, under the banner of security cooperation.
“This is how foreign occupation is packaged in modern times,” Sowore wrote, describing the situation as “recolonization 2.0.”
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Nigerian government or the United States authorities regarding the claims. The comments have, however, sparked debate online, with mixed reactions from Nigerians expressing concerns over national sovereignty and others dismissing the assertions as speculative.
Nigeria has maintained various forms of security cooperation with international partners over the years, largely aimed at combating terrorism, insurgency and transnational crime, though officials have consistently stated that such partnerships do not compromise the country’s sovereignty.