The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed the successful execution of precision airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist elements operating within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State.
The operation, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was carried out in the early hours of Friday, December 26, 2025, following actionable intelligence that identified the area as a major staging ground for foreign ISIS fighters infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region.
According to a press statement issued by the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, fnipr, the coordinated strikes were conducted in collaboration with the United States government and involved the full participation of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The air operation, which took place between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., targeted two major ISIS enclaves used for planning and launching terrorist attacks. The strikes were executed under established command-and-control structures and supervised by the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, alongside the Chief of Defence Staff.
Sixteen GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea. The strikes successfully neutralised the targeted terrorist elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria through the Sahel corridor.
The Federal Government disclosed that debris from the operation fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel facility. However, no civilian casualties were recorded, and security agencies swiftly secured the affected locations.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to national security, the statement noted that Nigeria remains resolute in confronting transnational terrorist networks and preventing threats to its sovereignty.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats, particularly those posed by foreign extremist elements,” the statement read.
The government also emphasized its continued collaboration with international partners to strengthen border security, enhance intelligence sharing, and ensure regional stability.
Citizens were urged to remain calm and vigilant as security forces sustain decisive operations against terrorist groups across the country. The government assured Nigerians that the nation’s security architecture remains firmly under control and fully focused on protecting lives and property.
