iDeemlawfulThere are indications that suspected terrorists in the North are changing locations following the missile attacks launched by the United States of America on Thursday night.
Reliable community leaders told Sunday PUNCH that unusual movements were observed as the hoodlums began relocating in small groups after the Christmas Day strikes.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the US military conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in northwestern Nigeria.
Confirming the development, the Federal Government said it provided support to the US and that the strikes targeted locations being used by the terrorists.
MOST READ ARTICLES
However, no casualty was recorded at the two sites hit by the missiles.
In Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, a missile landed on farmland, while several buildings were affected in Offa, Kwara State.
Officials of Tangaza LGA in Sokoto State, however, disclosed that further missile strikes were carried out on suspected hideouts of the Lakurawa armed group across parts of the Sokoto axis.
Although no lives were lost, several residents were injured, and properties worth millions of naira were damaged.Although there were no fatalities, many residents sustained injuries, while properties valued at millions of naira were destroyed in Offa.
Influx of bandits in Benue
The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West LGA of Benue State, Daniel Abomtse, raised concerns over the influx of armed herders into some communities following the US strikes.
Speaking to one of our correspondents on Saturday, the traditional ruler said he observed the presence of armed herders within his area.
He said, “I felt their movement in my local government as well as in Agatu LGA. They have been running away from Sokoto to coastal areas in Gwer West and Agatu with sophisticated arms and grazing openly. They are in my domain.”
While commending the US strikes, Abomtse urged Trump to extend similar operations to Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Niger and Plateau states.
“What President Trump has done is the best thing to have happened to the government of Nigeria. I commend him for dealing with the menace in the country, which began about 16 years ago,” he added.
Attempts to confirm Abomtse’s claims from the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, Udeme Edet, proved unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered and messages were not returned as of press time.
Sokoto terrorists in disarray
Security sources and residents said the Christmas strikes disrupted bandits’ activities and forced them out of their hideouts.
Community leaders in Tangaza, Gudu and parts of Illela in Sokoto told Sunday PUNCH that signs of displacement and movement among armed groups had been noticed since the strikes.
According to some residents who spoke anonymously, certain bandits were seen moving in smaller units toward remote forest corridors, while others reportedly attempted to cross into neighbouring border communities to avoid aerial and ground surveillance.
A community leader in Tangaza said the airstrike “sent a strong signal” and compelled criminal elements to abandon familiar routes and camps.
“People are cautious, but there is relief that their hideouts were hit,” he added.
Sokoto State government officials said intelligence assessments were ongoing to determine the direction and scale of bandit movement following the strikes.
A senior official noted that security agencies had been placed on alert to prevent terrorists from entering safer communities, adding that border patrols and joint operations with federal forces were being intensified to block escape routes.
A security expert, Bashar Umar, said the state government, working with the military and other security agencies, was strengthening surveillance across flashpoints, particularly border local governments, to curb terrorist movement.
US scans Sambisa Forest
A United States congressman, Riley Moore, said the strikes prevented “deadly Christmas attacks in Nigeria”.
Moore stated this on Saturday via X, noting that Christians in Nigeria had been killed during the past two Christmas seasons.
“This year, thanks to @POTUS, radical Islamic terrorists were on the receiving end of 12 Tomahawk missiles as a present.
“The successful strikes on ISIS, in coordination with the Nigerian government, are just the first step to secure the country and end the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Moore added.
It was also learnt that the US had resumed surveillance activities in the Sambisa Forest, Borno State.
A Sahel-focused terrorism tracker, Brant Philip, disclosed this on X on Saturday, sharing flight-tracking data showing an aircraft operating over Borno State.
According to the post, the aircraft was identified as a Gulfstream V, a long-range business jet commonly adapted for ISR missions.
“The United States resumed ISR operations today on ISWAP in the Sambisa forest, Borno State in North-East Nigeria, after a pause of one day following the strikes in Sokoto State,” he wrote.
Terrorists dislocated, may seek international support – Experts
A security analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Consulting, Kabiru Adamu, said fleeing terrorists might attempt to blend with law-abiding citizens.
Adamu, who resides in Sokoto, said the terrorists could also seek backing from international terror groups and sympathetic governments.
He urged security agencies to improve surveillance capacity to track terrorist movement and prevent infiltration into safe areas.
Adamu said, “There is going to be dislocation after the US strike. The terrorists will leave known locations and most likely try to integrate with law-abiding communities.
“They will also spin a narrative that a Christian country, the United States, is attacking Muslims in Nigeria. They will not say they are terrorists but will use this to gather support or sympathy.
“They will seek support from other terror groups around the world, including membership, tactics and funding. Nigeria may become a theatre of terror conflict as a result.
“Propaganda is another strategy they will adopt after the attacks, especially in cyberspace. They are likely to release fake news and propaganda materials to drive support and attract funding and membership.”
Also speaking, a Professor of Political Science and Defence Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Tar Usman, said the US military offensive would distract terrorists from planning and executing attacks, as they come to terms with the involvement of a powerful global nation.
He explained that uncertainty over possible future strikes would heighten fear among the terrorists and disrupt their operations.
“We do not know when next they (US) will strike, so there will be panic in the camp of the terrorists, and that is a good one for us because it will distract them from carrying out their notorious activities,” he added.
He noted that insurgent groups often exploit periods of calm to plan attacks but said the current situation could deny them that opportunity.
Usman, however, warned that the intervention would not automatically end terrorism, noting that the groups could adopt new strategies.
He said, “I can also see a situation where they will try to disappear and mix with the public, but with vigilance, I hope our intelligence agencies would intercept them.
“We should not be under any illusion that they will abandon their notorious activities instantly. Maybe in the fullness of time, we will see the full impact of the US intervention.”
A senior government source told Sunday PUNCH that Nigeria and the US were working together to end killings, banditry and kidnapping.
The source revealed that some terrorists were fleeing toward Kogi and neighbouring states, adding that steps were being taken to track and flush them out.