Dozens of militants are believed to have been killed following US air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Sokoto State, according to footage of the Christmas Day operation.
The strikes, which targeted Islamic State (IS) affiliates in north-western Nigeria, were first announced by US President Donald Trump on 25 December. The Nigerian government has since confirmed the operation was a joint effort between the two nations to combat the growing insurgency in the region.
High-precision strikes
Footage of the operation, sighted by a Punch reporter but not yet officially declassified, shows three separate strikes carried out between 24 and 25 December.
One sequence captured a massive secondary explosion following an initial hit, which military analysts suggest indicates the presence of an ammunition dump or explosive materials.
Key details from the footage:
- Movement detected: Suspected militants were seen fleeing the area immediately after the first bombardment.
- Secondary targets: Fleeing elements were engaged by aircraft, resulting in the destruction of several vehicles.
- Casualties: While the footage shows significant impact, an exact death toll has not been independently verified.
‘Battle damage assessment’
The Nigerian military has urged patience while a formal review of the operation is conducted. Speaking in Abuja, Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed that intelligence had placed high-value targets at the sites prior to the mission.
“There is a process of battle damage assessment,” Maj. Gen Onoja said. “Once that is completed, we will communicate to the public all our observations.”
Growing US-Nigeria cooperation
The operation marks a significant escalation in military cooperation between Washington and Abuja. While some critics have questioned the effectiveness of the strikes, the Federal Government described the mission as a vital component of its counter-terrorism strategy.
The north-west of Nigeria has been plagued by a wave of violence involving both jihadist groups and armed “bandit” gangs, leading to thousands of displacements in recent years.
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