By Joe Udo
ABUJA (CONVERSEER) – The Federal Government has confirmed that debris from joint precision strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist cells fell in Offa, Kwara State, and Jabo, in Sokoto State, during a coordinated military operation with the United States.
The strikes, executed between 00:12 hours and 01:30 hours on 26 December 2025, targeted the Bauni forest axis in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State. They were approved by President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to dismantle foreign-backed terror networks infiltrating Nigeria through the Sahel.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Friday, confirmed that debris from the GPS-guided precision munitions “fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel.” He added that no civilian casualties were reported and that emergency and security agencies immediately secured affected areas.
The operation involved the deployment of 16 GPS-guided munitions using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms launched from maritime bases in the Gulf of Guinea. Government intelligence indicated that the targeted locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS operatives collaborating with local extremist factions, allegedly preparing large-scale attacks within Nigeria.
The United States executed the operation “in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America,” the Minister said, reinforcing the ongoing bilateral defence cooperation between both countries.
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Earlier on Thursday, President Donald Trump announced the strikes through his Truth Social account, stating that the mission targeted terrorists responsible for attacks on Christian communities in northern Nigeria. He noted that the U.S. acted after warning ISIS-linked cells to cease killings and assaults on civilians.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote.
“I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to counterterrorism and assured Nigerians that surveillance and joint operations will continue to prevent further infiltration and attacks across the country.
