Details of how Nigeria, US conduct joint airstrikes, deployed 16 precision missiles against ISIS targets

The Federal Government has provided detailed information on the recent joint military operation with the United States against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist cells in Sokoto State.

In a statement on Saturday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed that 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones during the mission.

The operation, which took place in the early hours of Friday, December 26, 2025, targeted ISIS enclaves in the Bauni forest area of Tangaza Local Government.

Idris stated that the strikes, authorized by President Bola Tinubu, successfully neutralized foreign ISIS elements who were using the location as a staging ground to infiltrate Nigeria from the Sahel region.

The operation was conducted from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea under the supervision of Nigeria’s Defence and Foreign Affairs ministers, along with the Chief of Defence Staff, ensuring full Nigerian command and control.

The Minister acknowledged that debris from expended munitions fell in two locations—Jabo in Sokoto State and Offa in Kwara State—but confirmed there were no civilian casualties. Authorities have since secured both areas.

This official update follows Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar’s earlier confirmation that President Tinubu approved the joint strikes, emphasizing they were not religiously motivated but aimed at safeguarding all Nigerians.

The government reiterated its commitment to degrading terrorist networks and assured citizens of its control over national security, urging continued public vigilance.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts