Immediately after surprise United States airstrikes targeting militant groups in northwestern Nigeria, uncertainty dominated public discussion as Washington and Abuja offered differing explanations over what was actually hit and who was targeted.
The strikes, which occurred overnight from Thursday into Friday in Sokoto State, were quickly claimed by former US President Donald Trump, even before Nigerian authorities made any official announcement. His public comments intensified concerns among Nigerians about national sovereignty, transparency, and the true objectives behind the operation.
While both governments agree that the attacks were aimed at Islamic State–linked elements, neither side initially provided clear or verifiable details regarding the specific armed groups involved, the exact locations hit, or the number of casualties recorded.
The confusion was further deepened by reports that the operation had been delayed by Trump himself, allegedly to coincide with Christmas Day for symbolic reasons. According to Trump, the strike was intentionally postponed so it could be presented as a “Christmas present,” a remark that triggered strong reactions across Nigeria.
Questions were also raised after allegations emerged that Washington issued a unilateral statement without releasing a joint communiqué that Nigerian officials had expected.
“Twenty-four hours after the bombing, neither Nigeria nor its so-called international partners can provide clear, verifiable information about what was actually struck,” activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore said on Saturday.
Nigeria’s Complex Security Landscape
Nigeria is currently battling multiple armed groups operating across different regions of the country. These include Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast, armed bandit networks in the northwest, and other extremist factions linked to international jihadist movements.
Neighbouring countries across the Sahel are also fighting Islamic State–affiliated groups, raising growing concerns among regional security experts that cross-border insurgency is spreading into Nigeria’s northern territories.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, stated late Friday that the strikes were aimed at “ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.”
More official clarity emerged on Saturday when Daniel Bwala, spokesperson for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confirmed that the operation targeted Islamic State militants who had entered Nigeria to collaborate with the Lakurawa jihadist group and allied bandit gangs.
According to Bwala, all three groups were targeted during the operation and casualties were recorded. However, he acknowledged that authorities could not yet confirm which group suffered losses or the number of fighters killed.
Trump Takes Early Credit
Donald Trump was the first to publicly confirm the strikes, posting about the operation on social media shortly after it occurred. His announcement came hours before Nigerian authorities addressed the incident, sparking criticism from opposition figures and civil society groups.
Many Nigerians expressed concern that a foreign leader appeared to be announcing security operations conducted on Nigerian soil before the country’s own government.
Trump later told US media outlet Politico that the strikes had originally been scheduled earlier in the week but were deliberately postponed.
“They were scheduled earlier,” Trump said. “And I said, ‘nope, let’s give a Christmas present.’”
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) strongly criticised the federal government, accusing it of allowing “foreign powers to break the news of security operations in our country before our government does.”
In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, insisted that the strikes were a joint operation approved at the highest level. He said President Tinubu authorised the mission and Nigerian intelligence agencies provided critical information used by US forces.
Tuggar also revealed that while he was on the phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the operation, both parties had agreed to issue a joint statement. However, he said Washington released its own announcement prematurely.
Civilian Areas Affected
Almost 24 hours after the airstrikes, Nigerian authorities finally released official information identifying the targets.
Minister Idris confirmed that the operation struck “two major Islamic State terrorist enclaves” located in Tangaza District of Sokoto State.
However, he acknowledged that surrounding villages were affected by falling debris from the strikes.
Images captured by journalists showed extensive destruction in affected communities. In Offa, located in neighbouring Kwara State, buildings were reduced to rubble, streets were littered with debris, roofs collapsed, and household belongings were scattered across damaged compounds.
Residents of Jabo town in Sokoto State reported being shaken by explosions believed to have resulted from debris rather than direct strikes.
“We were surprised because this area has never been a stronghold for armed groups,” local resident Haruna Kallah told reporters.
The Nigerian government did not immediately confirm whether civilians were injured or displaced.
Conflicting Details Over Weapons Used
Uncertainty also surrounds the type of weapons deployed during the operation.
The US military released video footage showing what appeared to be missiles launched from a naval vessel.
Minister Idris stated that the strikes were launched from maritime platforms located in the Gulf of Guinea. However, he also said that “a total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper drones,” creating further confusion among analysts.
Defence experts say the contradictory explanations have made it difficult to independently verify the scale and precision of the operation.
Analysts Question Target Selection
Security analysts have expressed surprise over the decision to strike northwestern Nigeria, as most jihadist activity has historically been concentrated in the northeast.
The Lakurawa group, which operates mainly in Sokoto State, has recently been linked by some researchers to Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP). However, several analysts dispute the strength of those links, arguing that Lakurawa primarily functions as a local extremist faction with limited international coordination.
The airstrikes also follow recent diplomatic tension between Abuja and Washington. The dispute was triggered by Trump’s earlier remarks describing Nigeria’s violence as “persecution” against Christians — a characterisation strongly rejected by the Nigerian government and independent conflict analysts.
Experts argue that framing Nigeria’s security crisis strictly along religious lines oversimplifies a conflict driven largely by poverty, governance failures, criminal networks, and regional instability.
Symbolism Versus Strategy
The lack of clarity surrounding the targets, the timing of the strikes during Christmas, and the public relations tone adopted by Washington have led critics to question whether the operation prioritised symbolism over strategic impact.
Despite the controversy, both Nigeria and the United States have confirmed that additional military actions remain possible as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation.
For now, Nigerians continue to seek answers — not only about who was targeted, but also about the broader implications for national security, civilian safety, and the country’s sovereignty.
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