The Federal Government of Nigeria, in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America, recently conducted precision strike operations against major Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves. These operations, executed between 00:12 and 01:30 hours on Friday, December 26, 2025 (though some reports mention December 25), targeted locations within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State. Intelligence confirmed that these sites were utilized as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region, collaborating with local affiliates to plan large-scale terrorist attacks within Nigerian territory.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, clarified that a total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms. These strikes were launched from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea, following extensive intelligence gathering, operational planning, and reconnaissance. The operation received explicit approval from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and was carried out under established command and control structures with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, supervised by the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, further elaborated that the security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States, which led to airstrikes in Jabo (Tambuwal LGA) and Warrayya and Alkasim (Tangaza LGA) in Sokoto State, was conducted in line with international law and with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty. He emphasized that Nigeria provided the intelligence for the operations. President Tinubu also assured Nigerians that the ongoing recalibration of the country’s security architecture would soon yield positive results, while the Armed Forces of Nigeria stressed the operation's role in ongoing efforts to rid the country of terrorists.

Despite these assurances, the operation sparked significant debate and criticism. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) described the airstrikes as a highlight of what it called President Tinubu’s incompetence, questioning Nigeria’s actual role and cautioning against “myopic surrender” rather than genuine collaboration. The party also expressed concern over the government’s communication strategy and the persistent framing of the war against terror in religious terms by the U.S., which it believed could endanger Nigeria’s national unity. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) similarly urged the federal government to communicate effectively, noting that foreign powers, including US President Donald Trump, often broke news of security operations in Nigeria before the national government, which it deemed an “inverted communication approach” that undermines national sovereignty.

Concerns were also raised about the collateral impact of the strikes. Debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel, causing crumbled buildings. While officials, including Minister Idris, stated that no civilian casualties were recorded in either location, local residents in Jabo expressed surprise, noting that their area was not a known stronghold for armed groups. Captain Bish Johnson, a former United States Army officer, also questioned the transparency of the operation and called for clear information on whether terrorists were hit or if civilians were affected, stating that “Nigerian lives matter.”

Responding to criticisms, Minister Tuggar affirmed that the government prioritizes results over rhetoric, emphasizing that Nigeria faces an urgent security crisis demanding practical outcomes. He rejected claims that the operation was religiously motivated, stressing that the fight against terrorism has nothing to do with faith and affects all Nigerians irrespective of religion. He clarified that discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio preceded the strike, and while a joint statement was planned, Washington issued its own first. Retired Air Commodore Abayomi Balogun defended the collaboration as legitimate, coordinated, and necessary, explaining that international support is often required in counterterrorism and that Nigeria retains control over operational decisions. Senator and former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also clarified that the strikes targeted the Lakurawa terrorist group in Tangeza LGA and warned against politicizing or giving religious interpretations to the operation, insisting that terrorism threatens all Nigerians.

The joint airstrikes garnered significant support from various quarters. The Sokoto State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, and security experts all backed the intervention. Chief Ben Adaji, an APC chieftain, called on President Tinubu to designate critics of the US action as “enemies of the nation,” arguing that public condemnation amounted to hypocrisy or complicity. Dr. Paul Enenche, General Overseer of Dunamis International Gospel Center, expressed excitement over the US military action and called for similar treatment for terrorists, their sponsors, and collaborators.

Calls were also made to expand the scope of such joint operations. Senator Ali Ndume appealed to the Federal Government to extend military cooperation with the United States to the Northeast region, specifically targeting ISWAP and Boko Haram strongholds in Lake Chad, Mandara Mountain, and Sambisa. He also suggested expanding collaboration to include ground troops in training, intelligence, logistics, and helicopter support. Senator Tambuwal similarly argued for extending comprehensive international collaboration to other terrorism-prone states such as Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna, to avoid the impression that Sokoto was being unfairly singled out.

The broader context of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis was highlighted by experts. Captain Bish Johnson emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges are far deeper and more complex than a single foreign military strike, spanning terrorism, farmer–herder conflicts, weak law enforcement, and governance failures. Minister Tuggar linked Nigeria’s security issues to wider instability in the Sahel region, including the collapse of Libya and military coups in neighboring countries like Niger and Mali, which have led to the proliferation of weapons and facilitated cross-border terrorist movements. He noted that multiple armed groups like ISWAP, JNIM, Lakurawa, and Mamuna are active in the region. Experts agree that fighting non-state actors is fundamentally different from conventional warfare, making it a prolonged and complex struggle, often taking an average of 20 years to dismantle terrorism.

In conclusion, while the precision strikes against ISIS elements in Sokoto State demonstrate Nigeria's commitment to confronting terrorism with international partners, they have also exposed underlying tensions regarding national sovereignty, communication transparency, and the multi-faceted nature of Nigeria's security challenges. The Federal Government remains resolute in its determination to degrade and eliminate terrorist threats, assuring citizens of its control over national security while urging continued vigilance and cooperation.