In Nigeria, journalists and local residents reported that a recent US airstrike, which was aimed at Islamic militants, struck a field close to a village but thankfully resulted in no injuries.
Executed in collaboration with the Nigerian government, the strike rattled the people living nearby. The operation occurred on Christmas Day, starting at 11:45 p.m. and concluding 45 minutes later. The US launched at least 12 Tomahawk missiles, a hefty expenditure estimated between $18 million and $22 million.
According to military sources, the targets were two ISIS camps in the northwestern Sokoto state. The Nigerian Ministry of Information deemed the operation successful, stating that “depleted pieces of munitions fell near hotels in Hubo and Kwara states.”
press release
FG: Successful precision strike against ISIS foreign forces approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in close coordination with the United States Government, successfully conducted a precision strike operation…
— Info & Nat’l Orient Fed Min (@FMINONigeria) December 26, 2025
However, a Nigerian lawmaker stated that one missile hit a field near Habo village, and there were no casualties reported.
“There was a loud explosion, and people ran out of their homes in fear,” a local farmer mentioned. “But thankfully, no one was killed, and no houses were damaged. We just saw a crater outside the village.”
A journalist who visited the site remarked, “I went to the exact spot where the bomb landed. There were no injuries or signs of damage—only a clear point of impact.”
US and Nigerian airstrikes hit Sokoto region, but no casualties were reported https://t.co/qnAh5HW20R pic.twitter.com/h22RDnYDLK
— Truth Nigeria (@TruthNigeria123) December 26, 2025
Attacks against Christians and moderate Muslims remain an ongoing issue in Nigeria. President Trump remarked in a Truth Social statement on December 25 that the strike was aimed at “remnants of ISIS terrorists” and termed it “powerful and deadly.” However, local residents conveyed to both Truth Nigeria and CNN that Habo does not obviously connect to ISIS-related terrorism.
As per CNN, common crimes such as theft and kidnappings persist in the area, linked to groups like Laklawa, which is reported to have ties to ISIS. Still, locals insisted that Habo itself has not been marked by such violence.
A resident of Jabo village told CNN: “In Jabo, we see Christians as our kin. There are no religious conflicts here, so we really didn’t expect something like this to occur.”
“Overall, it’s a peaceful area. There’s no Boko Haram, no ISIS, and no kidnappers here,” said a youth leader from the locality. “So it’s puzzling to us what targets they are referring to.”
Isa Salih, the chairman of the Tangaza local government area, mentioned that known rebel positions were struck. He explained, “These areas serve as main entry points from Niger. They often set up camps in the nearby jungle.” Salih noted that they are still awaiting detailed security reports to evaluate the strike’s impact and whether any civilians were harmed.
As of Friday, journalists had not reported any casualties.
Dr. Walid Abdullahi, a security expert in Nigeria, suggested that claims of misplaced airstrikes are misguided, asserting that they likely eliminated several militants.
He indicated that the strikes were also aimed at meetings involving key figures within Laklawa and other terrorist groups. “Community members have said they haven’t seen any terrorists since the strikes happened,” he added.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) reported on Thursday that preliminary evaluations suggested multiple ISIS members had been killed in the camps. AFRICOM Commander Gen. Davzin Anderson conveyed that they will continue to analyze the operation’s impact and provide updates as necessary.
No comments have been received from AFRICOM or the Nigerian Ministry of Defense regarding requests for additional information.
