Long-range United States combat drones operating from a U.S. military facility in Ghana have carried out precision strikes on terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State, following a deepened intelligence and security collaboration between the Nigerian government and the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Security sources confirmed that the operation combined advanced unmanned aerial systems with naval strike assets, allowing for accurate targeting of terrorist positions while significantly reducing the risk of civilian casualties. Pentagon-released footage showed at least one munition launched from a U.S. naval platform as part of a coordinated strike package against identified locations in north-western Nigeria.
Foreign-Linked Terror Cells Targeted
The strikes focused on terror cells with foreign affiliations, including factions linked to the Lakurawa and Jenni groups. Intelligence reports indicated that these groups were mobilising fighters from Burkina Faso and Mali, with plans to launch coordinated attacks during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
A defence intelligence officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the mission was supported by a continuous 24-hour Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) cycle involving U.S. personnel in Ghana and Nigeria’s military intelligence command.
According to the source, the operation was deliberately narrow in scope, targeting only confirmed terrorist fighters and logistics hubs. Civilian communities, farmlands, and livestock areas were excluded from the strike parameters.
Legal Backing and Strategic Interests
Officials noted that Nigeria’s recent formal classification of armed bandit groups as terrorist organisations provided the legal basis for international military support involving direct kinetic action.
Intercepted communications reportedly exposed a large-scale movement of fighters through Sahelian routes into Nigeria, raising alarm over a potential regional escalation involving armed groups operating across Mali and Burkina Faso.
From the U.S. perspective, the operation aligns with broader efforts to curb transnational jihadist networks and disrupt cross-border terror logistics in West Africa.
Christmas Day Authorisation
Official confirmations later came from both Washington and Abuja regarding the Christmas Day strikes. U.S. authorities said the operation was authorised at the highest level in response to the killing of civilians by ISIS-linked elements operating in north-western Nigeria.
AFRICOM described the mission as a joint counter-terrorism operation carried out at Nigeria’s request, while Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that real-time intelligence sharing enabled precise engagement of multiple targets.
Heightened Military Presence
In the aftermath of the strikes, Nigerian security forces have reinforced troop deployments across border local government areas, including Gudu, Tangaza, and Binji, to prevent fleeing fighters from regrouping and to secure communities during the festive period.
U.S. defence officials have also hinted at the possibility of further actions, suggesting that the operation forms part of a sustained campaign against transnational terror threats in the region.
Security analysts say the disruption of the terrorist build-up has dealt a major blow to planned attacks aimed at destabilising Sokoto State and neighbouring border communities.