The Defence Headquarters says a battle injury evaluation of the latest United States strikes performed along with Nigerian forces remains to be ongoing.
United States President, Donald Trump, introduced on Christmas Day that the American navy performed deadly strikes in opposition to Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
The Federal Authorities confirmed the joint effort, describing it as a part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation.
There has, nonetheless, been debate within the nation on whether or not the strike was profitable or not.
Talking whereas fielding questions from journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, mentioned the navy would make its findings public after the evaluation was accomplished.
“On the US strikes along with Nigerian forces, there’s a technique of battle injury evaluation. We’re nonetheless in that course of, and I can guarantee you that when that’s accomplished, we are going to talk to the general public all our observations. In the end, we offers you all the knowledge that you just require from the U.S.–Nigeria strikes,” Onoja mentioned.
Responding to questions on whether or not terrorists had been current on the bombed places, Onoja mentioned intelligence reviews confirmed their presence within the space earlier than the strikes.
“, terrorists are ubiquitous, and we can not confine them to 1 location. In fact, there may be proof to indicate that they’re within the Sahel. So we are able to additionally take it additional given the proximity of the Sahel to Sokoto. Intelligence reviews have additionally confirmed their presence there earlier than these strikes had been performed in opposition to them. So, sure, they had been there, as a result of these strikes had been primarily based on intelligence reviews.
They’ve confirmed their presence in these areas. The truth that it was not publicised is usually for operational safety causes,” he mentioned.
He additionally mentioned the navy was monitoring the motion of terrorists outdoors the focused places and coordinating with subject commanders to stop their infiltration into communities.
In accordance with him, the armed forces are additionally partaking civilians to help safety businesses with well timed info.
“We’re monitoring them, and we’re doing the required issues, speaking with all of the pressure commanders within the areas that we’ve recognized as risk areas, in order that they’ll stop them from assimilating into the group and inflicting additional havoc. And as time goes on, you’ll hear about all of the actions that we’re doing. , it’s essential that whereas we’re appearing, we preserve it confidential. With time, I’ll name you right here and transient you about all of the issues that we’re doing.
“Additionally, we’re mobilising the civilian inhabitants in order that they are going to be vigilant and provides info to the navy and different safety businesses, in order that any situation of insecurity or any motion of those terrorists could be acted on shortly.
“The reality is that safety or insecurity can solely be addressed by means of the cooperation of each member of society. It’s referred to as the whole-of-society method,” he mentioned.
Onoja additionally appealed to individuals who could have taken possession of ammunition or fragments from the operation to return them to safety businesses for protected restoration.
“We don’t count on anyone to remove these supplies… they need to return them to the navy or safety divisions in order that we are able to disarm these issues earlier than they trigger better injury,” he mentioned.
Commenting on criticisms of the joint strikes, the defence spokesman mentioned it was not the position of the Armed Forces to answer each public assertion and that related businesses had been accountable for addressing such considerations.
“Each company has its capabilities. It isn’t for the Armed Forces to concentrate on what some folks in society don’t agree with in our actions. Ours is to concentrate on our kinetic operations and, as a lot as doable, conduct non-kinetic operations when mandatory. I consider that there are related businesses who’re tasked to contemplate such statements if they’re in opposition to or for the nation. And I consider that they’re doing so,” he mentioned.
On latest incidents of suicide bombing, Onoja mentioned the arrest of a suspected attacker this week was important in disrupting deliberate actions and logistics of terrorist parts.
He mentioned safety businesses had been working to stop future assaults utilizing intelligence networks and different measures.
He assured the general public that the armed forces would proceed operations in opposition to terrorist teams into the brand new yr.
In the meantime,the Borno State Police Command, on Wednesday, dismissed as “misinformation” claims by the Nigerian Military that it arrested a suspected suicide bomber in Borno State, insisting that the operation was carried out by the police and that no energetic Improvised Explosive System was recovered.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, informed The PUNCH on Wednesday that the suspect was arrested by the police and is at present in police custody.
“The identical suspect proven within the photos launched by the Military is with us. I personally interviewed him final evening. The objects recovered from him are usually not IEDs,” Daso mentioned.
“It was a police operation,” he added.
In a press release launched within the early hours of Wednesday, the police spokesman warned members of the general public in opposition to the unfold of misinformation.
“The Borno State Police Command has noticed with concern the circulation of social media movies alleging the restoration of Improvised Explosive System elements in Banki, Bama Native Authorities Space of Borno State,” the assertion learn.
“To set the report straight, on 29 December 2025, at about 1810hrs, operatives of the Command, whereas on surveillance round a mosque in Banki LGA, accosted one Abubakar in possession of a bag containing electrical wires, previous cell phone batteries, assorted gadget scrap supplies, and pairs of footwear.”
Daso said that preliminary investigations indicated that the objects recovered had “no energetic IED fabrication or priming.”
He added that the case had been transferred to the State Command Headquarters for complete investigation, noting that the suspect remained in custody whereas inquiries continued to determine the intent behind the objects present in his possession.
“The command cautions members of the general public in opposition to spreading unverified info able to inflicting concern or panic and urges reliance on credible and official sources for correct info,” he mentioned.
“Additional updates can be offered as investigations progress.”
