Anxiety, questions over US airstrikes

Residents of Tangaza and Tambuwal Local Government Areas of Sokoto State were thrown into panic late Thursday night as explosions from the United States’ airstrikes targeting terrorists rocked their communities.

This is even as a diplomat, security experts, lawyers and others are questioning the legality of the airstrikes, especially in Sokoto instead of more volatile areas.

Residents of Jabo District of Tambuwal LGA, where one of the strikes occurred, told Weekend Trust yesterday that the incident sparked panic in the community. They said the area is the safest when compared to other locations in the North West.

There were also explosions in Offa town in Kwara State last night, which destroyed several houses and shops at Yidi and Adeleke areas of the community.

The Federal Government last night confirmed that the object that caused explosions and destruction of properties in Offa was debris from precision-guided munitions deployed during a joint Nigeria United States military operation against Islamic State terrorists in Sokoto State.

The confirmation followed the anxiety and speculation after explosions rocked parts of Offa on Christmas night, damaging homes, shops and a hotel.

In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government said debris from expended munitions used during the operation fell in Offa, Kwara State, and in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The statement said the precision strike operations were carried out against two major ISIS terrorist enclaves in the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following approval by President Bola Ahmed 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 (ISIS) terrorist enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State,” the statement read.

According to the government, intelligence reports had confirmed that the locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region, in collaboration with local affiliates, to plan large-scale terrorist attacks within the country.

The strikes were executed between 12:12am and 1:30am on Friday, December 26, 2025, under established command and control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the supervision of the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.

The Federal Government disclosed that the operation involved the deployment of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, launched from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea.

“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,” the statement said.

Crucially, the government confirmed that debris from the operation was responsible for the incidents reported in Offa and parts of Sokoto.

“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. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas,” the statement added.

Diplomat, security experts, SANs fault US action

In separate interviews with Weekend Trust yesterday, a diplomat, some security experts and lawyers picked holes in the US airstrikes in Sokoto communities.

A former Nigerian ambassador and diplomat, Suleiman Dahiru, said allowing foreign powers, particularly the US, to intervene militarily in Nigeria could spell long-term trouble for the country.

He described the US strikes in Sokoto as “a unilateral action”.

He said: “I don’t like Americans getting involved in the affairs of any country. Any country the Americans have gotten involved with ended up getting worse off. Afghanistan, Iraq. For me, America is a bad omen for any country. If that country allows America to get in, it will mess up issues. And not only will it mess up issues, you will find that culturally, traditionally and even religiously, things are compromised.”

He questioned the rationale behind targeting Sokoto, “the heart of the caliphate”, instead of Borno, where Boko Haram had carried out deadly attacks.

“To me, the attack should have been in Borno State against Boko Haram. More so, when recently they detonated a bomb in a mosque in Gamboru, killing five people and injuring over 30 people,” he said.

He faulted Trump’s statement on the strikes, saying it was “totally wrong of him to have issued that statement, gloating over the attack, and not only gloating over the attack but linking it to attacks on people killing Christians.”

He said the narrative of protecting Christians was misplaced.

“Each group in the North-West is killing Muslims. They are not killing Christians. How many Christians are there in the North-West? If America is sincere that it is attacking terrorists or bandits that are killing Christians, then they should have attacked bandits in Benue and Plateau States. That is the heart of Christianity in the North.”

On whether Nigeria approved the strikes, Dahiru said Trump’s words suggested otherwise.

“The statement issued by Donald Trump would appear to me to be a unilateral action. So, America decided to do what it wanted to do,” he said.

“All that America needed to do was to provide intelligence and pinpoint to the Nigerian authorities where the bandits are hiding, and for the Nigerian Air Force to bomb them or do whatever it deems necessary. But for America to send missiles into Nigerian territory, for whatever reason, I don’t think in the long term it will be in the interest of Nigeria.”

Dahiru added that Africa must find its own solutions.

“We in Africa should find a way of solving our own problems without the involvement of foreign powers,” he added.

An intelligence and counter-terrorism expert, Abdullahi Garba, said the airstrike was an indictment of both the Nigerian government and its military “because this implies that we are not capable of governing ourselves as a sovereign nation.”

He asked: “Do we really need external forces to defeat terrorism for us? No. We have every capacity and capability to do that on our own. We have both human and capital resources to do that. Our hardworking Air Force personnel are being portrayed in a bad light. We have the best military officers in Africa that can defeat these terrorists if at all we are serious as a nation.

“Why can’t we also invite the US to help our battered economy and employment crisis? All these claims of the US are tilting towards something that we should not allow. We should not allow any country to divide Nigeria.”

Garba urged President Tinubu to order the military to clear all the terrorists in their various camps and stop foreign intervention, saying: “Foreign intervention won’t help us. The government should stop collaboration with the West. Let our military do this on their own. It will go a long way.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Abdullahi Shehu Zuru, queried whether the National Assembly debated and approved the collaboration to conduct the airstrikes.

He described the US action as “a violation of both the United Nations Charter on the Sovereignty of States and the constitutional authorisation, which was neither obtained by the US government nor the Nigerian presidency to grant such a permit for strikes on alleged ISIS camps in the Nigerian state.”

Another SAN, Dr Sebastine T., said in the 1990s, the United Nations World Summit unanimously voted for, on October 24, 2005, and signed the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) document, whose Paragraph 138 stipulated that each individual state had the responsibility to protect its populations from heinous crimes.

He said though Paragraph 139 mandated the international community, through the UN, to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means, in accordance with Articles VI and VIII of the UN Charter, to help protect such endangered populations, any action from external sources could only be by the UN Security Council.

Another lawyer, Daniel Bulluson, said while it is not necessarily a constitutional breach that the approval of Nigerian lawmakers was not sought in the “joint operation”, it raises serious constitutional and accountability questions depending on the nature, scope and legal basis of the collaboration.

“Now, the federal government has been citing protection of citizens’ lives and property as the basis for the joint operation. This gives unequivocal power to them to act first and then visit the National Assembly to ratify the action,” he said.

Abdullahi Yelwa, a senior lecturer in the Department of Crime Management and Control (CMC) at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, said Trump was wrong to have called the airstrikes an action against alleged Christian genocide.

He said: “From an analytical point of view, there are more questions than what Trump or Nigerian authorities have said. What this implies is that if it was with the consent of the Nigerian authorities for the US to launch the strike, then the framing and naming of the target as an ISIS branch in Nigeria was not done properly. Northwestern Nigeria is known majorly for kidnapping for ransom.

“The Sokoto issue is complex. Many see it as an attempt to siphon resources. If, of course, the US is targeting ISIS, the concentration should be in parts of Borno and Yobe States because these are where terrorist organisations are found. The fact that Nigeria needs assistance, there should be well-defined terms and conditions to restore law and order in all parts of the country.”

A security intelligence and investigation expert, who is also the Managing Director of Eagle Integrated and Logistics Company Limited, Abuja, Dr Yahuza Getso, said though the attack came at the right time, it might not have been on the right target.

“Already, the American government raised the alarm against the alleged genocide against Christians, even though the criminals are not looking at whether you are a Christian or a Muslim. So, I think America is wrong in its perception.

“But I think the attack came at the right time because it will wake up our leaders from their slumber. It may scare the criminals into thinking of next alternatives and probably will assist the larger population to be safeguarded.

“There may be surveillance misleading. There may be other political or economic reasons. I believe Sokoto is not the target, but I think the target is to send a message to Nigeria entirely. Tomorrow (today) or in the next 24 hours, you may hear another attack in another part of the country because nobody can predict Trump,” he said.

How the trouble started

Trump had last month threatened to cut off America’s aid to Nigeria and go into the country “guns-a-blazing” if the government did not do more to stop what he called Christian genocide.

He also said he had instructed the War Department to “prepare for possible action” against “terrorist thugs” in Nigeria.

Trump, via his Truth Social platform on Thursday, confirmed that US forces carried out what he described as “numerous perfect strikes” against ISIS elements operating in North-West Nigeria.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander-in-Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries,” Trump wrote.

He said the strikes followed earlier warnings issued to the terrorists to halt attacks on Christians or face severe consequences.

“I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” he said.

Trump added that the US Department of War executed the operation with precision, stressing America’s resolve to confront radical Islamic terrorism.

“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper,” he stated.

In a Christmas message that underscored his warning, Trump said further attacks would occur if the killings persisted. “May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists—of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” he added.

Also reacting, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a post on X, said the operation sent a clear message to ISIS, while acknowledging Nigeria’s cooperation.

“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth wrote. “The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight—on Christmas. Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation. Merry Christmas!”

Meanwhile, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that the strikes resulted in the killing of multiple ISIS terrorists in Sokoto State.

“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, US Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the command said in a statement posted on X.

The latest development signals an escalation in US military involvement against ISIS elements operating in Nigeria, particularly in collaboration with Nigerian security authorities.

‘Everyone was terrified in Sokoto’

A resident of Jabo in Tambuwal LGA of Sokoto State said they were seated when they noticed an object resembling a small aircraft approaching the community.

“Shortly after, we heard a loud explosion and saw a huge ball of fire. Everyone was terrified. People rushed out of their houses with their families and started running in different directions,” the resident said.

According to him, some residents later went to the scene and discovered what appeared to be a bomb crater on farmland.

“It created a very large hole, and fire was still burning. We thank God it did not fall on our houses and nobody was injured.

“We recovered some metal fragments and plan to hand them over to the local authorities for investigation.

“We are puzzled by the airstrike on our community because Jabo is not facing any security challenges.

“The last bandit attack we experienced was about two years ago, when some villages within our district were targeted,” the resident said.

A medical practitioner living in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the explosion occurred just a few metres behind her house, damaging the roof.

“It happened around 10 p.m. My family and I were indoors when we heard a loud blast behind the house. We rushed outside in fear. Later, we realised it was a drone strike. Thankfully, it did not hit our residence and no one was killed or injured, but we barely slept due to fear,” she said.

In Tangaza Local Government Area, residents also confirmed attacks on locations believed to be hideouts of the Lakurawa group.

Salisu Kalenjeni, chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, told Daily Trust that the airstrikes happened in a mountainous area deep within the forest which, according to him, security agencies had identified as a hideout for bandits.

According to him, residents living near the forest reported hearing the sound of airstrikes, followed by gunfire.

He said security operatives were being mobilised to access the location and provide a detailed report on the operation.

He said the airstrikes did not affect nearby communities or result in civilian casualties.

A local government official, who requested anonymity, said the strikes occurred between 10 p.m. and midnight at Warriya and Alkasim villages.

“We are yet to ascertain the full impact of the attack, including whether there were civilian casualties. Security operatives are expected to visit the affected areas this morning to verify what happened,” the official said.

However, multiple sources, including local authorities, said no airstrikes were recorded in the eastern part of Sokoto State, which has experienced banditry for over a decade.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

5 injured, houses destroyed in Kwara explosion

Weekend Trust learnt yesterday that the massive explosion, which rocked Offa community in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State at about 10 p.m. on Thursday, left five persons injured, including a couple and their daughter, and at least four buildings destroyed.

One of the injured victims, identified as Iya Ayo and her daughter, Aisha, were said to be hospitalised at First Care Hospital, Offa.

“They were asleep when the explosion happened. Iya Ayo’s breast, stomach and arms were pierced by nails,” a resident told Weekend Trust.

A petty trader, Madam Joy, narrated: “We saw a flying object coming with lights beaming. It rammed into that upstairs building. From there, it went through three other buildings and pulled them down.”

Another resident, Femi Ola, said he initially thought the incident involved a surveillance drone.

“I was about to sleep when I heard the explosion. I first thought it was from musicians playing at a nearby party. Later, people said it might be a helicopter crash that destroyed buildings. At one of the affected compounds, I saw building debris and parts of what looked like a missile, including something like a propeller and something resembling a small brain box,” he said.

Ola said bomb disposal experts were later deployed to the area.

“Many people saw it coming at speed around 10:30 p.m. A child in my compound ran to his mother in fear, who asked what was chasing him. Moments later, we heard the explosion. By the grace of God, a woman was rescued from one of the collapsed buildings. The object also hit a fence, while part of it landed on another building and damaged it,” he said.

Another resident, who declined to be named, said there was a loud bang after a strange object flew overhead.

“We thought it was a firecracker because there was no light. But when we saw the debris, we suspected it was a surveillance drone. We learnt that two elderly women were injured from the one that hit Yidi Road, but no life was lost,” he said.

He said although residents were moving around because of the annual Ijakadi festival, there was apprehension as many only heard about the incident yesterday.

‘We thought it was a plane crash’

Mrs Biodun Alabi, a resident of the Adeleke area where shrapnel was found, said she was frying yam when she heard the sound.

“It wasn’t like thunder; it sounded like the sky tearing apart. When things started falling, we thought a plane had broken apart. We thank God it did not hit any house or kill anyone,” she said.

A former Special Adviser on Security to the State Government and an indigene of Offa, Alhaji Tajudeen Alabi, said: “Yes, we suspect it was from the US-launched attack. It hit five buildings in Offa and collapsed three of them, including a fence, a storey building and a bungalow. Those injured have been taken to hospitals,” he said.

He said security personnel later invited a bomb disposal unit from Ilorin to detonate unexploded missiles found at Offa Central Hotel, Solid Worth Hotel and another residential building.

“The object first hit McCarthy House at Yidi Road, then Offa Central Hotel and Solid Worth Hotel in the Lamadi area, where two houses were destroyed,” he said.

Alabi said the incident caused panic because Offa is not known as a bandit-prone area.

“We initially thought it was bandits, a plane crash or a missile launched by criminals. But no bandit casualties were recorded anywhere. It is disturbing that the state government has yet to visit or issue a statement. We call on the federal government to assist the victims and the community,” he said.

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Adekimi Ojo, dismissed reports of a bomb explosion or plane crash.

“There was no bomb scare or plane crash in Offa. What happened was an ordnance incident. Our IED experts have evacuated the debris, and there is no cause for alarm. Investigations have commenced,” the CP said.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of Offa Local Government, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said the council was aware of reports of a suspected ordnance-related incident near the Offa Eid praying ground.

The council chairman, Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, said he received a distress call around 9:38 p.m. on Thursday.

“Thank God no life was lost. This was not a bomb explosion or a plane crash. I suspect it was a drone being tested that malfunctioned,” he said.

“The police and their experts have handled the situation, and residents have returned to normal activities,” he added.

Reacting to photographs showing youths handling metallic debris, security analyst Tunde Adebayo warned of serious danger.

“Spent missile casings can contain toxic substances capable of causing chemical burns or respiratory failure,” he said.

“Seeing children handling them is a nightmare scenario. These are not souvenirs; they are hazardous waste.”

‘Drones were launched from Ghana, Gulf of Guinea’

PRNigeria, citing multiple security sources, reports that long-distance combat drones were launched from a US military facility in Ghana following an intelligence-driven security collaboration between the Nigerian government and the US Africa Command (AFRICOM).

According to the platform, multiple security sources confirmed that the operation deployed advanced long-range unmanned aerial systems alongside naval strike capabilities from the Gulf of Guinea, enabling precision engagement while significantly minimising collateral damage.

Footage released by the Pentagon showed at least one projectile launched from a US naval platform as part of a coordinated strike package executed against identified terrorist locations in north-western Nigeria.

The precision strikes targeted foreign-linked terror cells, including elements associated with the Lakurawa and Jenni groups, which intelligence reports say were mobilising fighters from Burkina Faso and Mali to carry out coordinated attacks during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

A defence intelligence source, who spoke to PRNigeria, said the operation relied on a continuous 24-hour Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) loop between US personnel stationed in Ghana and Nigeria’s military intelligence command.

“This was a carefully planned and highly selective operation. The surveillance architecture ensured that only confirmed terrorist combatants and logistics hubs were engaged,” the source said.

The officer added that the level of precision achieved meant civilian settlements and livestock were deliberately excluded from the strike envelope.

Intercepted communications had revealed what officials described as a “massive convergence” of fighters moving through Sahelian corridors into Nigeria, raising concerns about a coordinated regional escalation involving groups operating across Burkina Faso and Mali.

For the United States, sources say the operation aligns with broader efforts to contain transnational jihadist movements and disrupt cross-border terror logistics in West Africa.

The strike, according to multiple officials, followed high-level diplomatic and security coordination that ensured full clearance of the target areas before drone deployment.

Tinubu gave go-ahead for US strikes – Foreign Affairs Minister

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, yesterday said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave the go-ahead for the US strikes against terrorists in the country’s North-West.

“Now that the US is cooperating, we would do it jointly, and we would ensure, just as the President emphasised yesterday (Thursday) before he gave the go-ahead, that it must be made clear that it is a joint operation, and it is not targeting any religion nor simply in the name of one religion or the other,” Tuggar said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“We are a multi-religious country, and we are working with partners like the US to fight terrorism and safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians,” the minister said.

Some have viewed the strikes as a violation of the country’s territorial integrity, but Tuggar said the federal government would not take any actions that would violate the country’s sovereignty.

“It is a collaboration; it is what we have been calling for,” Tuggar said.

A statement yesterday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Nigeria remained engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the US, to address terrorism and violent extremism.

It said the cooperation had led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by airstrikes in the North-West.

It explained that the collaboration followed international practice and bilateral understandings, including intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, while respecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and international law.

The statement read in part: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria confirms that Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.

“In line with established international practice and bilateral understandings, this cooperation includes the exchange of intelligence, strategic coordination, and other forms of support consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, and shared commitments to regional and global security.”

The government stressed that protecting civilians remains central to all counter-terrorism efforts.

“Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” the statement said.

It added that terrorist violence against any group remains unacceptable.

“Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” the ministry said.

The ministry further noted that Nigeria continues to work with partners to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their funding and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats, while strengthening national security and intelligence capacity.

We conducted Sokoto airstrikes with US – Military

The Nigerian military said it was aware of and joined the US War Department to conduct the airstrikes into terrorists’ camps in Sokoto State on Thursday night.

It described the operations as “coordinated”, saying it was part of efforts to rid the country of terrorists and other criminal elements threatening national security.

The Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said the strike followed credible intelligence and careful operational planning.

Uba, a Major-General, noted that the operational planning was aimed at degrading the capability of the targeted elements while minimising collateral damage in the affected areas.

He said: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in conjunction with the United States of America, has conducted precision strike operations against identified foreign ISIS-linked elements operating in parts of North-West Nigeria.

“The operation was executed with the approval of the appropriate Federal Government authorities and forms part of ongoing coordinated efforts to rid the country of terrorists and other criminal elements threatening national security.

“The strike followed credible intelligence and careful operational planning aimed at degrading the capability of the targeted elements while minimising collateral damage.

“The operation underscores the resolve of the Federal Government of Nigeria, working with strategic partners, to confront transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from establishing or expanding footholds within Nigeria’s borders.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and to supporting joint and inter-agency efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the country.”

Afenifere, M/Belt Forum back US airstrikes

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, yesterday described the airstrikes by Nigerian and United States military forces against ISIS terrorist elements in the North-West as timely and necessary.

Its National Organising Secretary, Abagun Kole Omololu, in an interview with Vanguard, said the decisive action came after years of persistent insecurity that had left communities vulnerable and undermined national stability.

“At this critical juncture, the involvement of the United States in ongoing counter-terrorism operations deserves recognition, not condemnation.

“For far too long, innocent Nigerians have been subjected to relentless attacks, abductions and wanton destruction of property, while insufficient measures were taken to decisively confront these terrorist enclaves.

“The lives of Nigerians and the preservation of national peace must always take precedence over political sentiment or populist critique,” he added.

“We call upon all citizens, political leaders and civil society actors to resist any temptation to undermine these efforts with misplaced criticism. Now is the time for solidarity, support and constructive collaboration to eradicate terrorism and protect the lives of Nigerians,” Omololu was quoted as saying.

The national president of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Bitrus Pogu, said: “The airstrike is a very welcome development, and we thank God that the President gave assent to it. What our government could not do in the past 15 years is now being done for us.”

“As far as we are concerned, it is a welcome development. This is the beginning and the start of the main thing. Let them smoke all of them out and let us have peace in Nigeria. We urge that the strike be carried out in all parts of Nigeria and in locations where the terrorists reside, which they already know,” he said.

“Most importantly, the sponsors who are known should also be taken out,” Pogu added.

Dr Pogu expressed hope that the action marked a turning point for the country “because we need peace in Nigeria, and we hope that this is the beginning of the end of the terrorists.”

Sowore, Gumi condemn US strikes

Islamic scholar, Dr Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States following airstrikes against ISIS terrorist elements in Nigeria.

Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page, where he strongly criticised the involvement of the United States in military operations on Nigerian soil, describing it as dangerous to the country’s sovereignty and internal cohesion.

While acknowledging that fighting terrorism is an obligation in Islam, Gumi said such actions must be carried out by what he described as “clean and holy hands”, not by foreign powers he accused of having a history stained with the blood of innocent civilians.

“Annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation,” he said, citing a prophetic tradition. “But it should only be carried out by clean, holy hands, not by another terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women and men.”

According to Gumi, Nigeria made a grave mistake by allowing foreign military involvement, arguing that “terrorists do not fight terrorists in truth”, but rather end up killing innocent people while pursuing hidden agendas.

He warned that no nation should permit its territory to become a theatre of war or allow foreign powers to turn its neighbours into enemies, adding that US involvement would attract anti-American forces to Nigeria.

“The US involvement in Nigeria will attract real anti-US forces, making our land a theatre of war,” he said. “Coming under the pretext of ‘protecting Christians’ will polarise our nation and infringe on our sovereignty.”

Gumi suggested that if Nigeria required external military assistance, it should turn to what he described as neutral countries such as China, Turkey and Pakistan, which he said could provide effective support without geopolitical baggage.

He further alleged that the reported bombing in Sokoto State was symbolic and politically motivated, questioning why an area he claimed is predominantly Muslim and not an epicentre of terrorism was targeted, while areas such as Maiduguri remain major flashpoints.

“The attack on Sokoto, where over 90 per cent are Muslims, on Christmas Eve, with claims of protecting against Christian genocide, says a lot,” he said. “We believe the terror is manufactured and sustained by the same people claiming to fight it.”

Gumi also argued that aerial bombardments alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s security challenges, insisting that only sustained ground operations could defeat terrorism.

“Dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror. It requires serious military operations on the ground, and if we are serious, we have enough men to do that,” he stated.

He called on communities affected by the strikes to document and share evidence of any casualties, while warning that the situation could become a major political issue ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Describing the strikes as a sign of what he termed a “neo-Crusade against Islam”, Gumi urged Nigerians to remain vigilant.

On his part, an activist and political commentator, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the recent US military strikes on Nigerian soil, insisting that only competent and informed Nigerian leadership, not foreign powers, can safeguard the nation and its citizens.

Sowore made the remarks in a post on his X handle, reacting to the authorised attacks on terrorist groups in Nigeria on Christmas Day.

“Although the Nigerian government now claims it was aware and describes the operation as a joint effort with vague ‘international partners’, it is evident that the strikes were carried out without the genuine authority or informed consent of the weaklings masquerading as government under President Bola Tinubu,” Sowore stated.

He further criticised the US for carrying out the operations, saying the strikes, reportedly targeting a village in Sokoto, demonstrated a lack of understanding and genuine concern for Nigeria and its people.

“It is deeply troubling that Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, lacks the capable and sovereign leadership required to protect its people and its territory,” he said, adding that the country has effectively become a bystander while its sovereignty is violated under the direction of the US President.

Sowore reaffirmed his position that only “true, tested and informed leadership” within Nigeria can adequately protect its citizens, warning against reliance on foreign powers or “imperilled, jaundiced neoconservatives operating from Washington, D.C.”

By Abubakar Auwal (Sokoto), Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin), Joshua Odeyemi, John Chuks Azu, Idowu Isamotu, Dalhatu Liman (Abuja) & Ado Abubakar Musa (Jos)

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