The Federal Authorities has clarified that United States-led airstrikes in Nigeria focused areas getting used as terrorist staging grounds, stressing that the operation was rigorously deliberate and executed to neutralise threats with out civilian casualties.
In an announcement issued and signed by the Minister of Info and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Friday, the federal government mentioned it had, “in shut coordination with the Authorities of the USA of America, efficiently carried out precision strike operations in opposition to two main Islamic State terrorist enclaves positioned inside the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Native Authorities Space, Sokoto State.”
Based on the assertion, intelligence findings confirmed that the bombed areas have been getting used to plan assaults on Nigeria.
“Intelligence confirmed that these areas have been getting used as meeting and staging grounds by overseas ISIS components infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel area, in collaboration with native associates, to plan and execute large-scale terrorist assaults inside Nigerian territory,” the federal government mentioned.
The minister disclosed that the strikes have been carried out after presidential approval and below Nigeria’s safety command construction.
It mentioned, “The precision strike operations have been executed between 00:12 hours and 01:30 hours on Friday, 26 December, 2025, following express approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Tinubu.”
It additional defined that the operation concerned Nigeria’s army management and key ministers. “The operation was carried out below established command and management buildings, with the complete involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and below the supervision of the Honourable Ministers of Defence and Overseas Affairs, in addition to the Chief of Defence Workers,” the assertion added.
Offering particulars of how the strikes have been executed, the federal government mentioned, “The strikes have been launched from maritime platforms domiciled within the Gulf of Guinea, after in depth intelligence gathering, operational planning, and reconnaissance.”
It famous that “a complete of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions have been deployed utilizing MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, efficiently neutralising the focused ISIS components trying to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel hall.”
Addressing considerations over falling particles, the minister acknowledged that remnants of the operation landed in elements of Sokoto and Kwara states.
“Through the course of the operation, particles from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Native Authorities Space of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, close to the premises of a lodge,” the assertion mentioned, whereas stressing that “no civilian casualties have been recorded in both location, and related authorities promptly secured the affected areas.”
Reaffirming its resolve, FG mentioned it “reiterates its unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and get rid of terrorist threats, significantly these posed by transnational extremist networks looking for to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and safety.”
It added that Nigeria “stays totally aligned with its strategic companions and Pals of Nigeria in executing coordinated actions geared toward making certain lasting peace, border safety, and regional stability.”
The federal government additionally sought to reassure residents, stating, “The Federal Authorities assures all Nigerians that it stays firmly answerable for the nationwide safety structure and is totally dedicated to the safety of lives and property,” whereas urging residents “to stay calm and vigilant as decisive actions proceed in opposition to all terrorist teams threatening the nation.”
Recall that the US President Donald Trump mentioned on Thursday that US forces carried out lethal strikes in opposition to Islamic State terrorists in Northwestern Nigeria, and vowed extra assaults if the militants preserve killing Christians.
The president acknowledged this on his Fact Social platform, including that the Division of Battle executed quite a few excellent strikes.
PUNCH On-line stories that FG, on Friday, confirmed the air strikes.
