By Peter Omopo
The Federal Government has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the recent precision airstrikes carried out against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State, as part of coordinated counterterrorism operations with the United States.
In a statement on Friday, the government disclosed that the strikes targeted two major ISIS camps located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area. Intelligence reports indicated that the locations served as assembly and staging grounds for foreign ISIS fighters infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region in collaboration with local affiliates, with the aim of planning and executing large-scale attacks across the country.
According to the statement, the operation was executed between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday, December 26, 2025, following explicit presidential approval. The strikes were conducted under established command and control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and under the supervision of the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
The airstrikes were launched from maritime platforms stationed in the Gulf of Guinea after extensive intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance, and operational planning. A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, successfully neutralising the targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria through the Sahel corridor.
The government noted that debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel premises. It, however, stressed that no civilian casualties were recorded in either location, adding that relevant authorities swiftly secured the affected areas.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Federal Government said it remains resolute in confronting, degrading, and eliminating terrorist threats, particularly those posed by transnational extremist networks seeking to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The statement added that Nigeria continues to work closely with strategic partners and friendly nations to ensure coordinated actions that promote lasting peace, border security, and regional stability. Nigerians were assured that the government remains firmly in control of the nation’s security architecture and fully committed to the protection of lives and property, while citizens were urged to remain calm and vigilant as operations against terrorist groups continue.
