U.S. Airstrikes Target Islamic State-Aligned Camp in Nigeria

On Christmas Day, U.S. airstrikes launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones targeted camps linked to Islamic State-aligned militants in Sokoto state, northwestern Nigeria. While the operation has drawn attention, details remain scant.

No civilian casualties have been reported. U.S. Africa Command (Africom) announced on December 26 that “multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in the ISIS camps.” However, the lack of transparent information has raised concerns among human rights advocates.

Bulama Bukarti, a human rights lawyer and conflict analyst, insists on the need for more clarity. “The picture remains worryingly unclear— which group was hit, how many fighters were killed, and what terrorist infrastructure was actually destroyed,” he stated. “In situations like this, opacity is dangerous. Credible, timely information is essential, not least because public trust and support for any further military action depends on Nigerians knowing whether this operation truly delivered results,” Bukarti posted on X.

Nigerian officials collaborated with the U.S. by providing intelligence for the strikes. However, they rebuffed President Donald Trump’s characterization of the operation as targeting extremists attacking Christians. Instead, they highlighted that insecurity affects individuals of all faiths and arises from a complex mix of criminal banditry, jihadi violence, and weak state protection, as reported by Premium Times.

The strikes primarily targeted the Lakurawa group, a small faction affiliated with ISIS that is striving to cement its presence in northwestern Nigeria. This area has seen an increase in youth recruitment and harsh controls imposed by the group. Despite debris landing in two communities, officials have reported no civilian casualties.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, indicated that the operation involved 16 GPS-guided precision munitions fired from drones stationed in the Gulf of Guinea. Additionally, Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from the USS Paul Ignatius, a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer.

However, complications arose when Trevor Ball, a researcher with Bellingcat, noted that “at least 3 Tomahawk warheads failed to explode from these strikes.” These missiles are believed to have landed in two locations in Offa town, Kwara State, raising further concerns regarding the operational accuracy and aftermath of the mission.

The operation underscores the evolving security landscape in Nigeria, where multi-faceted threats challenge both local and national efforts to restore stability. As the complexities of this conflict unfold, the call for transparency grows louder among both citizens and analysts alike.

Moving forward, the effectiveness of such military actions hinges on clear communication and accountability, both of which are crucial for sustaining public trust in the operations targeting extremist groups within Nigerian borders.

By Omer Aden
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.