The Federal Government has detailed a joint operation by Nigerian security forces and the United States targeting Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State.
The precision strikes, conducted between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday, December 26, were approved by President Bola Tinubu.
According to the government, 16 GPS-guided munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to neutralise ISIS operatives attempting to infiltrate Nigeria via the Sahel corridor.
Debris from the operation reportedly fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel. Authorities confirmed that no civilian casualties were recorded and that security personnel promptly secured the affected areas.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the strikes focused on two key ISIS camps situated within the Bauni Forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, highlighting the effectiveness of coordinated international counter-terrorism efforts.
The Sokoto State government has commended the joint military operation that neutralised ISIS elements in the state.
While the incident in Bargini sparked concern among residents, authorities confirmed that no civilian deaths or injuries occurred in Jabo District.
The government urged citizens to remain calm and rely on verified updates from security agencies.
In a statement, Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa, said preliminary reports confirm that the strikes were precisely targeted.
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He added that over the past two years, the Sokoto State Government has consistently supported security agencies with operational resources and equipment to strengthen surveillance, response capacity, and community safety.
Officials stressed that combating terrorism and banditry is a shared national responsibility, requiring continuous cooperation between federal authorities, state governments, local communities, and international partners.
The Federal Government has revealed that intelligence reports identified the targeted locations as bases for foreign ISIS operatives infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region.
The operatives, acting in coordination with local affiliates, were reportedly planning and preparing large-scale terrorist attacks within the country.
The US-led strikes were carried out under established command and control frameworks, with full participation of the Nigerian Armed Forces and oversight by the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
Precision attacks were launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea following detailed intelligence gathering, planning, and reconnaissance.
Reaffirming its commitment to national security, the Federal Government stated that it remains determined to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats, particularly from transnational extremist networks seeking to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Authorities assured Nigerians that the country’s security architecture remains firmly under control and emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging citizens to remain calm and vigilant as counter-terrorism operations continue.
