The Federal Government has disclosed that 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed during a joint Nigeria–United States military operation targeting Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist camps in Sokoto State.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this in a statement on Friday, confirming that the strikes were carried out using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to Idris, the operation successfully hit two major ISIS enclaves located in 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.
He explained that the strikes were conducted between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday, December 26, 2025, after receiving explicit approval from President Bola Tinubu. The operation was executed under established command and control structures, with full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and oversight by the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.
The minister added that although debris from the expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State—near a hotel premises—no civilian casualties were recorded. Security agencies immediately secured the affected areas.
Idris emphasised that the strikes were launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea following extensive intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and operational planning. He noted that the operation “successfully neutralised” ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria through the Sahel corridor.
Reaffirming the government’s position, Idris said Nigeria remains fully committed to confronting and eliminating terrorist threats, especially transnational extremist groups seeking to undermine the country’s sovereignty.
“The Federal Government assures Nigerians that it remains firmly in control of the national security architecture and is fully committed to protecting lives and property,” the statement read, urging citizens to remain calm and vigilant as operations against terrorist groups continue.
Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed that the operation was jointly conducted, stressing that it was not targeted at any religion but aimed solely at combating terrorism and safeguarding Nigerians.
Nigeria, he said, continues to work closely with international partners, including the United States, to ensure border security, regional stability, and lasting peace.
