Overview
- President Trump ordered strikes that hit encampments in Sokoto state, with U.S. media and Italian reports describing Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea, including involvement of the destroyer Paul Ignatius and Task Force 65.
- Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria requested the action, supplied intelligence, spoke twice with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and secured President Bola Tinubu’s authorization.
- Public narratives diverged, with Washington emphasizing an ISIS target and protection of Christians, while Abuja rejected a religious framing and characterized a coordinated counterterrorism mission.
- Analysts say the fighters identified locally as Lakurawa may not be formally tied to ISIS, and they note that northwest Nigeria has been driven by banditry as well as jihadist activity.
- Key facts remain unsettled, including whether Tomahawks or drone‑launched munitions were used and how effective the attack was, and U.S. defense officials have not ruled out additional operations.