The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that it is aware of the recent United States airstrikes carried out against terrorists in Sokoto State but has chosen not to disclose any details about the operation to the public.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today. According to him, the police possess intelligence relating to the strikes but consider the matter sensitive and outside the scope of public discussion.
“We engage a lot in intelligence gathering, not just intelligence sharing. As the Police Force, we know certain things about the strikes, but we don’t want to talk about them. We decline to talk about that particular operation,” Hundeyin said during the programme anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.
He explained that while there was collaboration among security agencies, the operation itself should be addressed by the appropriate defence authorities. “There was a cooperation, but we would rather leave it as a defence matter that the defence would talk about,” the police spokesman added.
On December 25, 2025, the United States carried out airstrikes targeting terrorists in Sokoto. The US Department of Defense confirmed that “multiple ISIS terrorists” were killed during the operation, which it said was conducted at the request of the Nigerian government.
US President Donald Trump also announced the strikes on his Truth Social platform, describing the action in strong terms. He wrote that: “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.
“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.”
The Federal Government later confirmed that the airstrikes were part of a joint security effort approved by President Bola Tinubu. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Boxing Day, stressed that the operation was collaborative and not directed at any religious group.
“Now that the US is cooperating, we would do it jointly, and we would ensure, just as the President emphasised yesterday 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.
He further emphasised Nigeria’s diversity and the importance of international partnerships in tackling insecurity. “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 stated.
The airstrikes followed repeated comments by President Trump concerning the killing of Christians in Nigeria, remarks that led to his decision to designate the country as a Country of Particular Concern.
Trump claimed that Christians in Nigeria were facing an “existential threat” amounting to “genocide,” allegations that were firmly rejected by the Nigerian government.
What you should know
The US airstrikes in Sokoto mark a rare instance of direct American military involvement in Nigeria’s internal security operations, highlighting the seriousness of the terrorism challenge facing the country.
While Nigerian authorities have confirmed their approval and participation, security agencies such as the police are limiting public disclosures, citing intelligence and defence sensitivities. The operation has also revived international debate over religious violence in Nigeria, particularly claims by US officials that Christians are being targeted.
Nigerian leaders maintain that insecurity affects all communities and insist the joint action was aimed solely at combating terrorism, not advancing religious or political narratives.
