iDeemlawfulFollowing surprise US strikes targeting militants in Nigeria, uncertainty persists over who or what was actually hit, as Washington and Abuja have offered slightly differing accounts.
Adding to the confusion is the delay of the strikes by US President Donald Trump, reportedly to prioritise the symbolism of launching the attack on Christmas, alongside claims that Washington declined to issue a joint statement with Nigerian authorities.
While both governments agree the strikes hit targets linked to Islamic State, neither has clearly identified which of Nigeria’s numerous armed groups were affected.
“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 Saturday.
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Nigeria is grappling with multiple jihadist groups, several with links to Islamic State. Similar groups operate in neighbouring countries, raising fears that regional conflicts are spilling into Nigeria.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris said late Friday that the strikes “targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.”
Speaking to Sky News, presidential adviser Daniel Bwala listed Islamic State, the shadowy armed group Lakurawa, or criminal “bandits” dominating northwestern Nigeria as possible targets.
However, analysts and the opposition People’s Democratic Party criticised the government for allowing “foreign powers” to “break the news of security operations in our country before our government does”.
– Trump claims credit –
Trump was the first to announce the overnight Thursday-to-Friday strikes in Sokoto state on social media, prompting concerns among Nigerians over a possible breach of sovereignty.
He later told Politico the strikes had been planned earlier, adding, “And I said, ‘nope, let’s give a Christmas present’.”
The following morning, Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar maintained that operation was cordinated, with President Bola Tinubu authorising the strikes and Nigeria providing intelligence.
Tuggar later told Arise News that while speaking with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the strikes, they agreed to issue a joint statement, but Washington released its own first.
– Villages hit by mistake –
Nearly 24 hours after the strikes, Nigeria clarified that “two major Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves” in Sokoto State’s Tangaza district were the intended targets, according to Idris.
He said other villages were struck by debris from the operation.
AFP images from Offa in neighbouring Kwara State showed collapsed buildings, with roofs caved in and belongings scattered among the wreckage.
In Sokoto’s Jabo town, explosions—also attributed to debris—shook residents. “It surprised us because this area has never been” a stronghold for armed groups, local resident Haruna Kallah told AFP. No civilian casualties were reported.
The exact munitions used remain unclear. The US military released footage showing a navy ship launching what appeared to be missiles.
Idris said “the strikes were launched from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea,” adding that “a total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper” drones.
– Targets unknown –
Analysts remain puzzled by the focus on Nigeria’s northwest, as jihadist activity is typically concentrated in the northeast.
Some researchers have linked elements of Lakurawa, the main armed group in Sokoto State, to Islamic State Sahel Province, though others dispute this connection.
The strikes followed diplomatic tensions sparked by Trump’s claim that Nigeria’s violence amounted to “persecution” of Christians—a characterisation rejected by the Nigerian government and independent analysts.
The religious framing of the violence, limited clarity about the targets, and the Christmas timing have heightened concerns that the operation prioritised symbolism over substance.
Both the US and Nigeria have indicated that further strikes remain possible.