France, Jan. 31 -- Dickson is a Nigerian policy analyst and team lead at the community peacebuilding organisationTattaaunawa Roundtable Initiative (TRICentre).

RFI: Did Abuja really ask for the strikes?

PrinceCharlesDickson: On paper, yes. US Africa Command and Nigerian officials have both said the strikes were carried out "in coordination with, and at the request of" the Nigerian government, specifically targeting ISIS-linked cells in Sokoto.

But inside Nigeria it doesn't feel like a sovereign, well-debated decision. There was no transparent public debate, no prior explanation to citizens or parliament, and the announcement cameafterthe missiles had already landed.

So formally, Abuja is saying "we asked for this", but politically it ...