THE FEDERAL Government has reiterated its “unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats,” particularly those posed by transnational extremist networks.
This is contained in a press release issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosing details of the precision airstrikes by the United States with the Nigerian Armed Forces against major Islamic State (ISIS) enclaves in Sokoto State.
Minister Idris said the operation was authorised directly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which targeted foreign terrorist elements infiltrating from the Sahel region.
The strikes, Idris said, were executed between 00:12 and 01:30 hours on Friday, December 26, 2025, hitting two terrorist enclaves within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza LGA, Sokoto State.
He assured Nigerians that the government remains firmly in control of the national security architecture and is fully committed to protecting lives and property.
“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,” Idris affirmed, as he urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant as security operations continue against groups threatening the nation.
According to Idris, intelligence reports confirmed that the locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS operatives collaborating with local affiliates to plan large-scale attacks on Nigerian soil.
“The precision strike operations were executed following explicit approval by the President,” the Minister stated. The operation was conducted under established command and control structures, supervised by the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, and the Chief of Defence Staff.
The release detailed that the strikes were launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea. Using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, a total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed, successfully neutralising the targeted threats.
The release also confirmed that debris from expended munitions fell in two separate locations: Jabo in Tambuwal LGA of Sokoto State, and Offa in Kwara State, near a hotel premises. It emphasised that no civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant security agencies have secured the affected areas.
Sokoto State Government Welcomes Operation
In a separate statement, the Sokoto State Government welcomed the joint security operation. The Director General of Media and Publicity, Malam Abubakar Bawa, confirmed the airstrike in Tangaza LGA and stated that no civilian casualties were recorded.
Bawa acknowledged that the full impact of the operation is still being assessed and that the circumstances of the debris found in Jabo are under analysis by joint Nigeria-US military authorities.
“Sokoto State Government welcomes any collaboration between Nigeria, and all the relevant global stakeholders aimed at curbing the menace of terrorism and cross-border crimes in the state,” Bawa said. He highlighted the state’s sustained support for security agencies over the past two years through the provision of necessary equipment.
The state government urged residents in affected areas to continue cooperating with authorities by providing useful information to sustain the efforts to restore lasting peace and security.
