DHQ: GPS-Guided Strikes Hit ISIS Staging Sites in Sokoto

By Zainab Uzomah

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says intelligence has confirmed that two locations struck during a Nigeria–United States joint air operation on Christmas Eve were being used by foreign ISIS operatives entering the country from the Sahel.

Speaking at an end-of-year briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said the sites in Bauni Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, served as assembly and staging points for militants collaborating with local affiliates to plan large-scale attacks.

Onoja said 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed from MQ-9 Reaper drones during the mission, describing the strikes as successful in neutralising the targeted elements. He also showed journalists a classified video of the operation.

He noted that debris from the munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel premises. No civilian casualties were reported and security teams cordoned off the affected areas soon after, he said.

The military spokesperson said the operation underscored Nigeria’s cooperation with international partners to counter transnational threats and safeguard national sovereignty. He urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant as security agencies “continue to take decisive measures against all terrorist entities.”

Over 24 top commanders killed in 2025

The DHQ said troops involved in internal security operations across the country killed scores of fighters in 2025, including more than 24 senior terrorist commanders.

It said 4,375 suspects were arrested, 2,336 kidnap victims were rescued, and 1,616 terrorists and family members surrendered within the year.

Among those “neutralised”, according to Onoja, were commanders identified as Aminu Kanawa, Dan Bokolo, Bello Buba, Dan Inna, Halilu Sabubu, Abu Dan Shehu Jabbi, Dogo Bashiru Yellow, Abba Allai (also known as Amirul Khalid of Alafa), Amir Abu Fatimah, Auta, Abdul Jamilu, Salisu, Malla Jidda, Talha, Mallam Umar, Abu Yazeed, Kabiru Bebe, Maiwada, Mai Dada and Nwachi Eze, known as Onowu. Others included notorious bandits operating under aliases such as Dosso, Suleiman, Jagaban and Danja.

Regional breakdown of operations

Onoja said the security situation in the North East remained “relatively stable” despite ongoing threats posed by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). He reported that military operations in the region led to the arrest of 1,323 suspects — including collaborators, gunrunners and spies — and the rescue of 498 kidnap victims. More than N32 million was also recovered, he said.

He added that several militant camps had been destroyed, forcing many fighters to surrender and allowing commercial and agricultural activities to resume in previously affected areas.

In the North West, troops apprehended 669 suspects and rescued 966 kidnap victims in 2025. The DHQ said significant quantities of arms, ammunition and cash intended for ransom payments and arms purchases were intercepted.

“With additional manpower and equipment deployed, troops have gained momentum in the region, compelling terrorist groups to flee or surrender,” Onoja said.

In the North Central states, troops under Operations Enduring Peace and Whirl Stroke arrested 1,260 suspects and rescued 655 kidnap victims. Large caches of weapons were also recovered.

The Defence Headquarters further appealed to the public to collaborate with security agencies by reporting suspicious movements in their area to effectively combat fleeing terrorist from integrating with the locals in their communities.