Nigeria confirms US used drone-launched guided missiles in Christmas Day strikes on ISIS-linked militants, with full Nigerian military involvement.
LAGOS: The United States used guided missiles launched from drones in its strikes on northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, the Nigerian government confirmed on Friday.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the operation deployed 16 GPS-guided precision munitions from MQ-9 Reaper drones.
The strikes targeted Islamic State group (ISIS) elements attempting to enter Nigeria from the Sahel corridor, according to an official statement.
The US announced the action against unspecified ISIS-linked militants on Thursday, though details on the targets and each country’s precise role remain unclear.
Nigeria is fighting multiple armed conflicts, including a long-running jihadist insurgency, and its struggle to control the violence has drawn criticism from Washington.
Minister Idris emphasised that the operation was conducted with the full involvement of Nigeria’s Armed Forces and the explicit approval of President Bola Tinubu.
US President Donald Trump’s initial announcement of the strikes had raised concerns among Nigerians about a potential breach of sovereignty.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar noted that information from official communications between the two countries has sometimes differed.
This may be partly due to Washington apparently backing out of issuing a joint statement with Abuja, he suggested.
Idris provided further operational details, stating the strikes were launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea.
The action followed extensive intelligence gathering, planning, and reconnaissance, he added.
These comments appeared to align with a video released by Washington showing projectiles being fired from a ship bearing an American flag.
The minister confirmed that debris from the expended munitions fell in Jabo in Sokoto State and in Offa in Kwara State.
He stated that no civilian casualties were reported from the strikes.
