Terrorists operating in northern Nigeria face more coordinated attacks after Nigeria and the United States carried out a joint strike on their locations in Sokoto State on Thursday night. Officials from both countries confirmed that the operation is part of ongoing actions against ISIS linked elements in the region.
A US military official quoted by The New York Times said about a dozen Tomahawk missiles were deployed near the Niger Republic border, targeting Islamic State Sahel fighters accused of attacking security forces and civilians. Information Minister Mohammed Idris later clarified that 16 missiles were fired during the operation.
Idris explained that debris from the missiles caused explosions reported in Offa, Kwara State, and Jabo in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, triggering panic among residents. He stressed that the blasts came from falling missile fragments, not from direct bomb attacks on those communities.
The minister said intelligence showed that Bauni forest in Tangaza Local Government Area was being used as an assembly and staging ground by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel with local collaborators. According to him, the strikes, approved by President Bola Tinubu, were carried out between 12:12 am and 1:30 am on Friday, December 26, under established command and control structures involving the Armed Forces and the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs.
He added that 16 GPS guided precision munitions were launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea using MQ 9 Reaper drones and that the targeted ISIS elements attempting to enter Nigeria from the Sahel corridor were “successfully neutralised.” No civilian casualties were recorded in Jabo or Offa, and security agencies quickly secured the affected areas.
US Africa Command said its initial assessment showed that multiple ISIS militants were killed in the operation. A video released by the Pentagon showed a missile being launched from a warship, while a US defence official confirmed that known ISIS camps were hit.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth hailed the action in a social media post, saying the Department of War was “always ready” and warning that “more” strikes would follow. He also thanked the Nigerian government for its support and cooperation.
Commander of US Africa Command, General Dagvin Anderson, said the operation underscored growing counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria and regional partners. He noted that the goal is to respond to ongoing violence and threats against innocent lives.
Residents of Tambuwal and Tangaza local government areas described a frightening scene as the skies suddenly turned red before loud explosions shook their communities. Some believed a plane had crashed until authorities clarified the situation.
Police explosive ordnance experts from Base 15 in Sokoto cordoned off the impact points in Jabo, warning residents not to pick up strange metal fragments. In Offa, Kwara State, missile debris damaged parts of a hotel building and some houses, but no lives were lost.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria provided intelligence for the strikes and held direct talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio before and shortly before the operation. He stressed that the action was a joint operation, not targeted at any religion, and aimed purely at combating terrorism and protecting Nigerians.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Nigeria remains engaged in structured security cooperation with partners such as the US. This includes intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and precision hits on terrorist targets in line with international law and respect for sovereignty.
The Defence Headquarters confirmed that the operation was approved by the appropriate federal authorities and formed part of broader efforts to clear terrorists and other criminal groups. Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said the strikes were based on credible intelligence and careful planning designed to degrade enemy capability while minimising collateral damage.
Tangaza Local Government Chairman Isa Salihu said the missiles struck a known terrorist hideout and main route used by fighters crossing from Niger Republic. He said the authorities were awaiting detailed security reports to confirm casualties and assess the full impact.
The Sokoto State government welcomed the operation, describing any collaboration aimed at tackling terrorism and cross border crime as a positive development. Officials said no civilian deaths were recorded in the affected areas, though a full assessment of the joint operation is still underway.
The Federal Government restated its resolve to confront and eliminate terrorist threats from transnational extremist networks. It urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant, assuring that Nigeria is firmly in control of its security architecture and committed to protecting lives, borders and national unity.
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Nigeria and the US say more precision strikes will hit ISIS linked terrorists after a joint missile operation in Sokoto, with no civilian deaths reported.
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