Nigeria has confirmed the exact locations of United States airstrikes conducted in the country’s northwest on Christmas evening, describing the operation as a coordinated action approved by Abuja. The strikes mark an unusual instance of foreign military force being used on Nigerian territory.
Government officials say the operation was carried out with US forces and targeted Islamic State-linked militants operating near the border region. It follows recent criticism from Washington over Nigeria’s response to attacks on Christian communities.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris told state television that the offensive focused on two Islamic State enclaves in the Bauni axis of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State. According to Idris, 16 GPS-guided munitions were launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones, hitting fighters attempting to cross into Nigeria from the Sahel.
Idris reported that fragments from the weapons fell in Jabo, in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, close to a hotel compound. He said there were no civilian casualties and noted that security personnel secured the impacted sites shortly after the operation.
The strikes highlight a significant shift in Nigeria’s security strategy as the military continues to struggle against a range of armed groups. Analysts say the move signals growing foreign involvement in counterterrorism efforts as Nigeria faces several overlapping crises.
In the northeast, Islamic State affiliates that evolved from the Boko Haram insurgency continue to stage attacks more than a decade after the conflict began. In the northwest, criminal networks and militant factions exploit remote forests as bases to launch raids on villages and security forces.
Security experts caution that while the US operation may bolster Nigeria’s efforts, foreign airstrikes alone will not resolve the country’s entrenched security problems. The scale and complexity of the threat, they say, require long-term reforms and stronger coordination across Nigeria’s security agencies.