Tinubu Authorized Christmas Day U.S. Air Strikes in Sokoto to Neutralize ISIS Enclaves, Information Minister Confirms

The Federal Government has moved to clarify the circumstances surrounding the unprecedented military action in Northern Nigeria, confirming that President Bola Tinubu gave the official “go-ahead” for the United States to conduct precision air strikes in Sokoto State.

Speaking from the capital, Information Minister Mohammed Idris provided a detailed account of the operation to reassure the public that Nigeria’s sovereignty remains intact. The strikes, which occurred in the early hours of Christmas Day, targeted what the government described as “two prominent ISIS terrorist enclaves” hidden deep within the Bauni forest.

The Minister’s statement aims to counter the narrative of a unilateral foreign intervention. “This was a joint security and intelligence collaboration,” Idris stated. “President Tinubu emphasized that it must be clear that this is a joint operation. The Armed Forces of Nigeria were involved at every stage of the operational planning and execution to ensure our interests and citizens were protected.”

The high-tech assault utilized Tomahawk missiles fired from the USS Paul Ignatius, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer currently stationed in the Gulf of Guinea. Additionally, MQ-9 Reaper drones provided 16 separate munitions strikes against militants attempting to cross the border from the Sahel.

The targets included the Lakurawa group, a relatively new but increasingly lethal extremist faction that has gained territory in Sokoto and Kebbi states. While U.S. President Donald Trump initially framed the strikes as a move to stop the “slaughter of Christians,” Minister Idris was quick to pivot the focus back to national security. “Terrorism kills indiscriminately,” he noted. “This operation was about protecting all Nigerians, regardless of faith, and dismantling cells that threaten our collective peace.”

Residents in the village of Jabo reported seeing the sky “glow bright red” as the missiles struck nearby fields. While shrapnel was scattered near a primary health center, local leaders confirmed that no lives were lost among the civilian population.

Security analysts suggest this marks a “new phase” in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy, signaling a deeper, more aggressive military partnership with the United States. Minister Idris concluded by stating that the government remains “calm and focused,” promising that such collaborations will continue until the border regions are fully secured.