Pat Stevens/
The Federal Government has confirmed that recent secondary explosions reported in Offa, Kwara State, and Jabo in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State were linked to United States airstrikes that targeted two major Islamic State enclaves in north-west Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the strikes were “successful precision operations” conducted in close coordination with the United States and approved by President Bola Tinubu.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria, in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America, has successfully conducted precision strike operations against two major Islamic State terrorist enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State,” Idris said.
He explained that intelligence assessments had established that the targeted locations were being used as “assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region, in collaboration with local affiliates”.
According to the minister, the objective was to disrupt plans for “large-scale terrorist attacks within Nigerian territory”.
Idris disclosed that the strikes were carried out in the early hours of Friday, December 26, between 12 minutes past midnight and 1.30am, following what he described as “explicit approval by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
“The operation was executed under established command and control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and under the supervision of the Honourable Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff,” he said.
Providing operational details, the minister said the strikes were launched “from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea” after extensive intelligence gathering, planning and reconnaissance.
“A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, successfully neutralising the targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor,” Idris stated.
Addressing reports of explosions outside the primary target area, the minister confirmed that debris from expended munitions fell in parts of Sokoto and Kwara states.
“During the course of the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel,” he said.
Idris stressed that no lives were lost in either location. “No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas,” he added.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to tackling terrorism and transnational extremism, particularly threats linked to cross-border movements from the Sahel.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats, particularly those posed by transnational extremist networks seeking to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and security,” Idris said.
He added that Nigeria remained aligned with its international partners in pursuing regional stability. “Nigeria remains fully aligned with its strategic partners and Friends of Nigeria in executing coordinated actions aimed at ensuring lasting peace, border security, and regional stability,” the statement read.
Assuring the public, the minister said the government was firmly in charge of the country’s security apparatus. “The Federal Government assures all Nigerians that it remains firmly in control of the national security architecture and is fully committed to the protection of lives and property,” Idris said.
He urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant as security operations continue against terrorist groups across the country.
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