The United States has conducted airstrikes against militants affiliated with the Islamic State in northwestern Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in a long-running conflict that Nigeria's military has struggled to contain.
Details of the US Military Intervention
The strikes, carried out on Thursday 26 December 2025, targeted Islamic State militants in Nigeria's northwest. US President Donald Trump stated on social media that the "powerful and deadly" action was directed against ISIS fighters who were "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians." However, residents and security analysts note that Nigeria's pervasive security crisis affects both the predominantly Christian south and the Muslim-majority north.
Nigeria's government, which is battling multiple armed groups, confirmed the strikes were part of an ongoing exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination with Washington. The precise impact of the bombardment remains unconfirmed. In a post on X, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at further action, stating simply: "More to come..."
Who Are the Militants Targeted?
The armed groups operating in Africa's most populous nation include at least two with Islamic State ties. These are an offshoot of Boko Haram known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast, and the lesser-known Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), referred to locally as Lakurawa, which is prominent in the northwest.
While officials did not specify the exact group targeted, security analysts believe the strikes likely hit members of Lakurawa. This faction has grown more lethal over the past year in border states like Sokoto and Kebbi, frequently attacking remote communities and security forces. The Nigerian military has previously stated the group has roots in neighbouring Niger and increased its activity in Nigeria's border areas following a 2023 military coup in Niger. That coup fractured relations between the two nations and disrupted multinational military operations along their porous border.
A Twisted Invitation: From Protectors to Oppressors
Analysts reveal a complex origin story for Lakurawa's presence. The group is reported to have been active in northwest Nigeria since around 2017, when it was invited by traditional authorities in Sokoto to protect communities from rampant bandit groups.
"The militants, however, 'overstayed their welcome, clashing with some of the community leaders ... and enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia law that alienated much of the rural population," explained James Barnett, an Africa researcher at the Hudson Institute.
Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher with Good Governance Africa, noted that communities now openly state Lakurawa are more oppressive and dangerous than the bandits they were meant to guard against. The group controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi and is known for killings, kidnappings, rape, and armed robbery.
Deep-Rooted Governance Crisis Fuels Insecurity
Experts argue that Nigeria's security woes stem more from a governance problem than a purely military one. While motives for attacks vary, armed gangs are often driven by the near-total absence of state presence and security in conflict hotspots, which makes recruitment easy. Data shows these areas suffer from some of the country's highest levels of poverty, hunger, and unemployment.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, once remarked in a previous role that military action constitutes only 30% of the solution to the security crisis, with the remaining 70% dependent on good governance. Samuel echoed this, stating, "The absence of the state in remote communities is making it easy for non-state actors to come in and present themselves to the people as the best alternative government."
Crucial Support for an Overstretched Military
Thursday's US strikes are viewed as crucial support for Nigeria's security forces, which are often overstretched and outgunned as they confront multiple crises across different regions. In states like Sokoto, the Nigerian military has itself conducted airstrikes and embarked on mass recruitment drives.
However, analysts point out that military operations targeting these gangs are frequently not sustained. Militants easily relocate on motorcycles through vast northern forests, and they often use hostages—including schoolchildren—as human shields, complicating aerial bombardment efforts.
