By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja, Nigeria
The United States has carried out airstrikes targeting suspected Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in northwest Nigeria, following intelligence indicating plans for coordinated attacks during the Christmas period, according to statements from U.S. and Nigerian officials.
Sources familiar with the operation told Africa News Nation that the strikes were launched from a U.S. military vessel operating in the Gulf of Guinea after surveillance detected a large gathering of suspected militants at a remote camp in the Sokoto area.
The militants were believed to have traveled from locations including Mali, Burkina Faso, and other parts of Nigeria, allegedly coordinating attacks across four Nigerian states.
U.S. officials said the operation followed weeks of monitoring militant movements and was timed to disrupt what they described as an imminent threat to civilian populations during the holiday season.
In a statement released after the operation, U.S. President Donald J. Trump said the strikes were ordered in response to continued attacks attributed to ISIS-linked groups in the region. He described the mission as a decisive action against terrorism and credited U.S. forces with carrying out what he called a successful operation.
Nigerian authorities later confirmed cooperation with Washington.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the airstrikes as part of a joint U.S.–Nigeria counterterrorism effort.
“Now that the U.S. is cooperating, we would do it jointly,” Tuggar said, emphasizing that the operation was conducted with the full consent of the Nigerian government. He stressed that the strikes were not religiously motivated and were aimed solely at armed groups threatening national security.
Tuggar also addressed concerns about Nigeria’s sovereignty, dismissing claims that foreign involvement undermined territorial integrity.
“The Federal Government would never approve any action that compromises our sovereignty,” he said, adding that international partnerships remain critical in addressing terrorism.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced persistent security challenges from extremist groups and armed bandits, particularly in the northwest.
Officials say joint operations and intelligence-sharing with international partners are essential to restoring stability and protecting civilians.
