Nigeria’s Information Minister confirmed that U.S. airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day used guided missiles launched from drones to target militants linked to the Islamic State group. While the United States officially announced the strikes on Thursday, details regarding the specific targets and each nation’s role in the operation remain vague.
The announcement comes amid Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with various forms of armed conflict, including a jihadist insurgency that has plagued the nation since 2009. This persistent violence has drawn criticism from Washington, which has expressed concern over Nigeria’s capacity to manage security threats.
In his statement, Information Minister Mohammed Idris detailed that a total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles. These strikes reportedly aimed to neutralize specific ISIS elements that were attempting to infiltrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.
The news of the strikes was initially announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, leading to apprehensions among Nigerians about potential infringements on their national sovereignty. Idris emphasized that the operation was conducted with the full participation of the Nigerian Armed Forces and received “explicit approval” from President Bola Tinubu.
Information about the strikes has emerged slowly from the northwestern states of Sokoto and Kwara, where impacts were reported. Nigerian officials indicated that the strikes affected these areas, but specifics have been limited. Differences in the details communicated between Nigerian and U.S. officials have surfaced, with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar noting that Washington had opted against issuing a joint statement with Abuja.
Idris elaborated that the strikes originated from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea, following extensive intelligence gathering and operational planning. This assertion aligns with a video released by the U.S. showing projectiles being launched from a navy ship. He further reported that debris from the munitions fell in the Jabo region of Sokoto State and in Offa, Kwara State, while confidently stating that there were no civilian casualties resulting from the strikes.
