The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed the successful destruction of two major Islamic State (ISIS) infiltration bases within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State.
The operation was carried out in close coordination with the United States government.
The precision strikes, executed in the early hours of Friday, December 26, 2025, targeted enclaves identified as assembly points for foreign ISIS fighters, including members of the Lakurawa group infiltrating from the Sahel.
Authorities stated that these elements were planning large-scale attacks within Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed that the strikes occurred between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. following explicit approval from President Bola Tinubu.
The operation was supervised by the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff.
The strikes were launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea using 16 GPS-guided precision munitions deployed by MQ-9 Reaper unmanned platforms and Tomahawk missiles.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that Nigeria provided the critical intelligence that enabled the first wave of these strikes, describing the event as a “new phase of an old conflict.”
During the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State. Federal authorities confirmed that while property was affected, no civilian casualties were recorded in either location.
While U.S. President Donald Trump framed the intervention as a response to the “persecution of Christians,” the Nigerian government maintained that the joint operation targets all terrorists threatening the nation, regardless of the faith of their victims.
The Federal Government urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them that the national security architecture remains firmly in control as decisive actions against extremist networks continue
