Overview
- AFRICOM said the Christmas Day strikes in Sokoto killed multiple ISIS militants, though overall casualty figures remain unverified.
- Nigerian officials described attacks on two enclaves in the Bauni forest area, citing 16 GPS‑guided munitions from MQ‑9 Reapers and reporting debris in Jabo and Offa with no civilian casualties.
- President Trump cast the action as protecting Christians and acknowledged timing the strike for Christmas, while Nigeria stressed a broad counterterrorism aim not tied to religion.
- Security analysts identified Lakurawa as the probable target and questioned the choice of predominantly Muslim Sokoto and the expectation that airstrikes alone will curb violence.
- Reactions split across Nigerian and diaspora communities, with some church leaders welcoming the move, others warning of blowback and reporting property damage, and U.S. officials signaling possible additional operations.