The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that a comprehensive damage assessment is still underway following the recent United States airstrikes carried out in collaboration with Nigerian forces.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, explained that the military would make its findings public once the assessment process is concluded. His remarks came amid growing public debate over the effectiveness of the strikes.
According to Onoja, the assessment forms part of standard military procedure after such operations. He assured Nigerians that all relevant observations from the joint US–Nigeria strikes would be communicated in due course once the evaluation is completed.
The clarification followed the announcement by United States President Donald Trump on Christmas Day that American forces had conducted lethal strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria. The Federal Government later confirmed the operation, describing it as part of sustained counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.
Addressing questions about whether terrorists were present at the locations targeted, Onoja said intelligence reports had confirmed their presence before the strikes were executed. He explained that terrorist elements are not confined to one area and often operate across regions, including the Sahel, which shares close proximity with parts of north-western Nigeria.
He noted that intelligence assessments indicated the presence of terrorist groups in the affected areas prior to the strikes, stressing that operational details are sometimes withheld from public disclosure for security reasons.
The defence spokesman also revealed that the armed forces are closely monitoring the movement of terrorist elements outside the strike zones. He said coordination with field commanders is ongoing to prevent militants from blending into communities and carrying out further attacks.
Onoja added that the military is actively engaging civilians to support security agencies with timely and credible information. He emphasised that addressing insecurity requires a collective effort involving the military, security agencies and the wider society, describing it as a “whole-of-society approach.”
Responding to criticisms surrounding the joint operation, he stated that it is not the responsibility of the Armed Forces to react to every public opinion. He said the military remains focused on its core kinetic and non-kinetic operations, while other relevant agencies are tasked with addressing public concerns where necessary.
He also appealed to members of the public who may have taken ammunition or fragments from the strike locations to return them to security agencies for safe recovery, warning that such materials could pose serious danger if mishandled.
Onoja assured Nigerians that military operations against terrorist groups would continue into the new year as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard lives and property.
What you should know
The Defence Headquarters says assessment of the recent joint US–Nigeria airstrikes is still ongoing and findings will be made public when concluded.
Intelligence reports confirmed terrorist presence at the targeted locations before the strikes. The military is monitoring militant movements, engaging civilians for intelligence support, and coordinating with commanders to prevent further attacks.
Operations against terrorist groups will continue into the new year as part of sustained counterterrorism efforts.
