Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially confirmed that the United States conducted precision airstrikes against terrorist targets in the Northwest region of the country, affirming a structured security cooperation between Abuja and Washington aimed at countering extremist violence. The confirmation follows public announcements by U.S. officials that strikes were carried out on 25 December 2025 against militants affiliated with the Islamic State and linked to violent attacks in the region.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria acknowledged that the airstrikes resulted from ongoing intelligence sharing and strategic coordination with international partners, including the United States. The ministry emphasised that the cooperation aligns with established international practice and bilateral commitments to tackling terrorism and violent extremism, while respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and adhering to international law.
According to the ministry, the collaboration has led to “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” underscoring joint efforts to weaken extremist networks responsible for persistent violence across the region. The statement stressed that all counter-terrorism operations prioritise the protection of civilian lives, the safeguarding of national unity, and the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity — a focal point reiterated by Nigerian authorities.
The U.S. military action, publicly announced by President Donald Trump on social media and confirmed by U.S. military sources, described the strikes as “powerful and deadly” and aimed at Islamic State militants operating in Sokoto State, a part of Nigeria’s northwest where extremist presence and violence have been linked to regional instability and attacks on civilians. The operation was reported to have been conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities, with U.S. Africa Command citing intelligence cooperation and mutual security objectives.
While details on the specific military assets or weapons used were limited in official disclosures, reports indicate that multiple militants were killed in engagements at designated targets in the northwest, reflecting a shared commitment by Nigeria and its partners to counter militant threats that have afflicted remote areas of Sokoto State and neighbouring regions.
The confirmation from Abuja also sought to address narratives circulating in public discourse by framing the strikes as part of a broader strategic partnership rather than unilateral foreign intervention. The ministry reiterated that terrorism and violent extremism that affect Nigerians — whether Christian, Muslim, or from other communities — remain unacceptable and that the government will continue to work with partners to disrupt financing, logistics, and operational capacities of terrorist networks.
Security analysts note that the confirmation of U.S. strikes reflects an evolving phase of international cooperation in Nigeria’s complex security landscape, where domestic counter-insurgency efforts by the Nigerian Armed Forces and joint operations with foreign partners seek to address a multifaceted threat environment involving Islamic State affiliates, Boko Haram factions, bandit militias and other armed groups. While these collaborations aim to enhance operational effectiveness, authorities also face the challenge of ensuring community confidence and civilian protection in areas affected by conflict.
As investigations and assessments of the strikes’ impact continue, the Nigerian government has affirmed its resolve to strengthen its own security institutions and intelligence capabilities, while maintaining and expanding strategic partnerships to confront terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms.
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