Terrorists in the north will come under more strikes following Thursday night’s collaborative operation by Nigeria and the United States on their locations in Sokoto State.
Officials of both countries confirmed yesterday that the strikes are ongoing.
A security source in Nigeria described the Thursday strikes as a test run.
The New York Times quoted a US military official as saying that about a dozen Tomahawk missiles were deployed for the operation that targeted areas close to the border with Niger Republic, where a branch of ISIS called the Islamic State-Sahel has been attacking government forces and civilians.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris was more categorical on the number of missiles fired:16.
He said in a detailed statement on the airstrike that that debris from the missiles caused the explosions in Offa,Kwara State and Jabo,Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Thursday night.
The explosions caused panic among residents.
The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile used by the U.S. Navy and allies for deep-strike, land-attack missions. Launched from ships or submarines, it flies at low altitudes to evade radar, with a range exceeding 1,000 miles (1,600+ km) and precision targeting, often carrying a 1,000-lb warhead
Tomahawk Cruise Missile
The Tomahawk cruise missile is a precision weapon that launches from ships and submarines and can strike targets…
A video posted by the Pentagon showed at least one projectile launched from a warship. A US defense official said the strike targeted multiple militants at known ISIS camps.
The U.S. Africa Command said its initial assessment concluded that ‘multiple’ ISIS terrorists were killed.
The chairman of Tangaza Local Government area, Isa Saleh Bashir could not say how many terrorists were hit but said “they are certainly injured.”
“Reports indicate that Niger Republic security forces on patrol said they saw Lakurawa fleeing the area,” the local government chairman told the BBC.
An area hit by one of the missiles in Tangaza LGA was still emitting smoke yesterday afternoon.
US officials hailed Nigeria for its cooperation in getting at the terrorists.
Residents of Tambuwal and Tangaza local government areas were still in panic yesterday as they recounted their experience when the missiles began to rain.
They said the skies first went red followed by a deafening noise of explosions.
A team of police bomb experts yesterday visited the scene of the strikes in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area yesterday and cordoned it off.
Soon after the missiles hit their targets, the US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a post on social media:“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas.More to come…”
He added: “Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation.”
The commander of US Africa Command Dagvin Anderson also acknowledged Nigeria’s assistance,saying: “US Africa Command is working with our Nigerian and regional partners to increase counter terrorism cooperation efforts related to ongoing violence and threats against innocent lives.”
Bauni forest was the main target,says Information Minister
Information Minister Idris said in a statement that Nigeria in close coordination with the US “successfully conducted precision strike operations against two major Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.”
He said: “Intelligence confirmed that these locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region, in collaboration with local affiliates, to plan and execute large-scale terrorist attacks within Nigerian territory.
“The precision strike operations were executed between 00:12 hours and 01:30 hours on Friday, 26 December, 2025, following explicit approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The operation was carried out under established command and control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and under the supervision of the Honourable Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
“The strikes were launched from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea, after extensive intelligence gathering, operational planning, and reconnaissance.
“A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, successfully neutralising the targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.
“During the course of the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats, particularly those posed by transnational extremist networks seeking to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and security.
“Nigeria remains fully aligned with its strategic partners and Friends of Nigeria in executing coordinated actions aimed at ensuring lasting peace, border security, and regional stability.
“The Federal Government assures all Nigerians that it remains firmly in control of the national security architecture and is fully committed to the protection of lives and property.
“Citizens are urged to remain calm and vigilant as decisive actions continue against all terrorist groups threatening the nation.”
How we worked with US by Nigeria’s Tuggar
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, giving an insight yesterday on the joint operation between Nigeria and the US, said: “It is a collaboration, it is what we have been calling for.”
“It was Nigeria that provided intelligence for the US strike in Nigeria. I spoke with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for 19 minutes before the strike, and we agreed to talk to President Tinubu for his go-ahead, and he gave it,” he said on Channels TV.
Continuing, he said: “After the approval, I spoke again with Marco Rubio five minutes before the strike was launched against the terrorists.
“Now that the US is cooperating, we would do it jointly, and we would ensure, just as the president emphasised yesterday before he gave the go-ahead, that it must be made clear that it is a joint operation, and it is not targeting any religion nor simply in the name of one religion or the other.
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“We are a multi-religious country, and we are working with partners like the US to fight terrorism and safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians.”
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria remained “engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism. This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West.
“In line with established international practice and bilateral understandings, this cooperation includes the exchange of intelligence, strategic coordination, and other forms of support consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, and shared commitments to regional and global security.
“Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity. Terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.
“The Federal Government continues to work closely with its partners through established diplomatic and security channels to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats, while strengthening Nigeria’s own security institutions and intelligence capabilities.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to engage relevant partners and keep the public informed through appropriate official channels.”
Nigeria’s military role in the precision strikes
The Defence Headquarters said the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in conjunction with the United States of America, “conducted precision strike operations against identified foreign ISIS-linked elements operating in parts of North West Nigeria.”
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba said the operation was “executed with the approval of the appropriate Federal Government authorities and forms part of ongoing coordinated efforts to rid the country of terrorists and other criminal elements threatening national security.”
He added: ”the strike followed credible intelligence and careful operational planning aimed at degrading the capability of the targeted elements while minimising collateral damage.
Read Also: Sokoto attack: Army begins special operation
“The operation underscores the resolve of the Federal Government of Nigeria, working with strategic partners, to confront transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from establishing or expanding footholds within Nigeria’s borders.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and to supporting joint and inter-agency efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the country.”
Missiles definitely hit terrorists – Tangaza LG chair
Tangaza Local Government Chairman Isa Salihu told Premium Times yesterday that the missiles hit a known hideout for terrorists in the area.
“That area serves as their primary route when entering from the Niger Republic,” Salihu said.
“They frequent these zones and have established camps in the dense forests near the border.
“We cannot yet confirm if targets were killed. We are awaiting detailed security reports to determine the impact and to verify if there were any civilian casualties.”
“Locals frequently report sightings of armed groups nestled within the rocky hills along the border axis. The blast from the airstrike has caused panic among residents in the surrounding communities. We pray that no one is hurt.”
Traditional ruler caution resident against picking strange metals
The BBC reported that a separate strike hit a field in the town of Jabo, further south in Sokoto, but there were no reports of casualties.
“Something that looked like a plane flashed and crashed… in fields,” BBC quoted resident Umar Jabo as saying.
The traditional ruler of the town, Alhaji Abubakar Jabo, advised residents against visiting the explosion site to pick metal fragments and debris.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the airstrike in the area did not affect residents nor damage residential buildings.
Locals reportedly picked fragments of the missiles.
Officials of Police Base 15 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) in Sokoto led by the Commandant, Mr Hassan Jatau, cordoned off the area on arrival.
Residents:the skies first went red, then boom
Jabo residents said some of them were about retiring to bed for the day when the skies unexpectedly turned red.
They were gripped by panic and while still wondering what was happening, a deafening noise accompanied by explosions followed throwing the entire community into pandemonium.
Some even thought a plane had crashed.
“It was almost like daytime,” resident Sanusi Madabo said of the fire sparked by the missiles.
In Offa, several buildings were hit on Yidi and Adeleke parts of the town.
“I was frying yam when I heard a deafening sound. It wasn’t like thunder,” said Mrs. Biodun Alabi, a resident of Adeleke area, where one of the fragments was found.
“When fragments started falling, we thought a plane had broken apart. We thank God it did not claim any life,” she added
If Mrs Alabi did not suffer any loss, the proprietor of an hotel in Adeleke area was not that lucky.
A piece of metal that looked like an expended shell pierced through a section of the building causing a major damage.
It’s a welcome development—Sokoto State govt
Sokoto State Government said it welcomed “any collaboration between Nigeria, and all relevant global stakeholders aimed at curbing the menace of terrorism and cross-border crimes in the state.”
The Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, said in Sokoto that while the airstrike carried out in Tangaza Local Government Area, claimed no civilian life but “ the impact could not be immediately determined” as an assessment of the Joint Operations was still being awaited.
