Abuja: US-backed air strikes in Nigeria hit two camps linked to the Islamic State group in the Bauni forest of Sokoto State, targeting foreign fighters infiltrating from the Sahel, the Nigerian government said. The operation highlights an escalation in security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
According to France24.com, the strikes were approved by President Bola Tinubu and launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea, following extensive intelligence gathering, operational planning, and reconnaissance. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that US forces had conducted the strike against Islamic State group militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, noting that the group had been targeting Christians in the region.
The Nigerian government's statement detailed that 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, effectively neutralizing the targeted ISIS elements attempting to enter Nigeria from the Sahel corridor. The camps were reportedly used by foreign Islamic State group elements collaborating with local affiliates to plan large-scale attacks inside Nigeria. No civilian casualties were reported, though debris fell in two towns in Sokoto and Kwara states.
Trump lauded the operation as numerous perfect strikes and hinted at future actions. This joint operation between Abuja and Washington signifies growing security collaboration as Islamist violence from the Sahel threatens to spread further south.
Sokoto State authorities confirmed the strikes and reassured residents to remain calm, emphasizing that ongoing operations aim to secure the state and ensure the safety of lives and property. Nigeria has faced Islamist insurgents for over a decade, but the involvement of foreign fighters linked to the Islamic State group indicates an escalation in the threat level. The Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and promised further measures against transnational extremist networks.