Dalena Reporters l December 27, 2025
The Federal Government of Nigeria has provided detailed clarification on the United States-led airstrike operation targeting Islamic State (ISIS) militant positions in Sokoto State, confirming that 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial drones in the early hours of Friday, December 26, 2025. The strikes were carried out with explicit approval from President Bola Tinubu and conducted in coordination with Nigerian security forces, according to Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who said intelligence indicated the bases were used by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating from the Sahel region to plan large-scale attacks inside Nigeria.
The operation focused on two major terrorist enclaves in the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State. Idris explained that the unmanned drone platforms launched the precision munitions from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea, neutralising the targeted elements. Debris from the munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel, but authorities said that no civilian casualties were recorded in either location and that security agencies quickly secured the affected areas.
Nigeria’s government reiterated its commitment to confronting and eliminating terrorist threats, emphasising ongoing collaboration with international partners to ensure border security and regional stability. Officials urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant as operations continue against extremist groups.
The clarification follows reports of explosions in parts of Sokoto and Kwara that coincided with the period of the strikes, prompting both official statements and local reactions. Despite the operation’s aim to degrade militant capabilities, questions remain among some observers about the presence and scale of ISIS activity in the targeted areas.