Top military sources have confirmed that recent that recent United States precision strikes on terrorist targets in North-West Nigeria, carried out in coordination with the Nigerian military, successfully neutralised foreign-linked terror cells planning attacks across four states.
According to the sources, intelligence reports had revealed a large-scale infiltration of armed terrorists and bandits into Nigeria through Sahel corridors from Mali and Burkina Faso. The groups were allegedly preparing coordinated assaults on communities in Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger and Katsina states.
“It was a successful joint operation with the U.S. military. Nigeria provided the targets, while the strikes were executed by U.S. forces. Cleanup operations are currently ongoing,” a military source disclosed.
The targeted cells, identified as the Lakurawa and Jenni groups affiliated with ISIS, were said to have mobilised fighters from Mali and Burkina Faso with plans to launch attacks during the Christmas and New Year period.
Pentagon disclosures indicated that the operation involved the deployment of precision strike capabilities, supported by advanced surveillance and long-range unmanned aerial systems to ensure accurate targeting and limit civilian harm.
Military sources stressed that the operation was carefully planned and highly selective, with robust surveillance measures in place to ensure that only confirmed terrorist elements and their logistics hubs were engaged.
The successful strike highlights growing cooperation between Nigeria and international partners in countering transnational terrorism and preventing large-scale attacks on vulnerable communities in North-West Nigeria.
