Overview
- President Trump announced the Christmas Day operation, which Abuja said was approved by President Bola Tinubu and coordinated with the Nigerian military.
- Government statements say two camps in Bauni Forest were struck using 16 GPS-guided munitions launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones operating from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea.
- AFRICOM’s initial assessment reports multiple ISIS-linked fighters killed, with local authorities still assessing casualties and damage.
- Officials report no civilian casualties, though expended-munition debris was found near Jabo in Sokoto and in Offa, Kwara, and the sites were secured.
- Analysts and local leaders say the likely target was the Lakurawa network near the Niger border, as Nigeria’s foreign minister rejects sectarian framing and U.S. officials signal potential follow-on actions.