Federal Government has confirmed that 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed in air strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) camps located in the Bauni forest area of Tangaza LGA, Sokoto State, with debris from the operation later found in parts of Sokoto and Kwara states.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Friday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the United States carried out the operation on Christmas Day after intelligence reports identified two major terrorist enclaves operating within the forest axis.
He explained that the camps were being used by foreign ISIS fighters infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region and working with local collaborators.
According to the minister, the strikes were conducted in the early hours of Friday following the explicit approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He added that no civilian casualties were recorded in any of the affected areas.
The minister said, “The strikes were launched from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea, after extensive intelligence gathering, operational planning, and reconnaissance.”
“A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, successfully neutralising the targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.”
“During the course of the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel.”
“No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas.”
“The Federal Government of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats, particularly those posed by transnational extremist networks seeking to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and security.”
“Nigeria remains fully aligned with its strategic partners and Friends of Nigeria in executing coordinated actions aimed at ensuring lasting peace, border security, and regional stability.”
Security sources said the operation is part of wider efforts to disrupt terrorist movement across Nigeria’s northwestern corridor, where armed groups have continued to exploit forest routes and border communities.
