The United States has confirmed that it carried out airstrikes against militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria, marking a rare US military action in this part of the country.
According to the US military, the strikes targeted militant camps in Nigeria’s Sokoto state, close to the border with Niger. An initial assessment suggests that several militants were killed, although exact casualty figures have not been officially confirmed.
Former US President Donald Trump, who announced the operation on social media, described the strikes as “deadly” and said the militants were responsible for brutal attacks on civilians. He stressed that the US would not allow extremist groups to gain strength or expand their influence.
However, Nigerian officials clarified that the operation was not linked to religious motives. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that the strikes were conducted as part of a joint security operation between Nigeria and the United States. He emphasized that the mission was based on intelligence shared by Nigerian authorities and had been planned well in advance.
“The timing has nothing to do with Christmas or any religious event,” Tuggar said, adding that the goal was solely to target terrorist groups responsible for violence against Nigerians. He also did not rule out the possibility of further operations if needed.
Nigeria has long been battling various extremist groups, including Boko Haram and factions aligned with Islamic State, though most of the fighting has traditionally taken place in the country’s north-eastern region. The reported strikes in Sokoto indicate growing concerns about militant expansion into north-western Nigeria.
Local residents described scenes of panic following the explosions. A villager from Jabo said a loud blast shook the area, causing fear among residents. Another witness told BBC News that many people initially believed an aircraft had crashed after seeing fire and smoke in nearby fields. Videos shared on social media appeared to show burning debris in open farmland.
Some local leaders, however, disputed claims that militants were present in the area. Umar Jabo, a resident, said the community lives peacefully and denied that Islamic State fighters were operating there. A local lawmaker also stated that the missile strike occurred close to civilian infrastructure, less than 500 meters from a hospital.
The US has previously criticized Nigeria over security concerns, particularly regarding the protection of religious communities. Trump had earlier designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged violations of religious freedom, a claim Nigerian officials have rejected, saying extremist violence affects people of all faiths.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with about 220 million people, is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Security experts note that most victims of jihadist violence in the country have been Muslims.
According to analysts, the strikes may have targeted a smaller and relatively new IS-aligned group known locally as Lakurawa. This group is believed to have moved fighters into Sokoto and nearby Kebbi state over the past two years, setting up camps and carrying out attacks while attempting to impose strict social rules on local communities.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry later confirmed ongoing security cooperation with international partners, including the US, to combat terrorism and violent extremism. The statement said the airstrikes resulted in “precision hits” on terrorist targets in the north-west.
The Nigeria operation follows another recent US military action against Islamic State targets. Just last week, the US reported carrying out large-scale strikes against IS positions in Syria, involving fighter jets, helicopters, and allied forces.
While investigations continue, the situation has renewed debate over foreign military involvement in Nigeria’s security challenges and the need to balance counter-terrorism efforts with civilian safety.