Video footage reviewed by Sunday PUNCH has confirmed that United States airstrikes conducted in Sokoto State between December 24 and 25, 2025 targeted and killed several terrorists, destroyed vehicles and struck multiple hideouts, though the exact number of casualties remains unverified, according to security sources.
The video, which has not yet been declassified by the Nigerian military, depicts three separate strikes on suspected terrorist locations in the region, including secondary explosions shortly after initial bombardment, suggesting storage of explosive materials at the sites.
Movements of suspected fighters fleeing the area and damaged vehicles were also captured in the footage.
Military officials have said that a comprehensive battle damage assessment is required to confirm the full impact of the operation, as the visual evidence alone cannot independently verify the number of terrorists killed or the scale of destruction.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, said in Abuja on December 31, 2025, that security agencies were still conducting the assessment and would share findings once completed.
“On the United States strikes in conjunction with Nigerian forces, there is a process of battle damage assessment. We are still in that process, and I can assure you that once that is completed, we will communicate to the public all our observations,” he said.
Onoja confirmed that intelligence prior to the strikes indicated the presence of terrorists in the targeted locations, although details of the specific groups involved and their affiliations were not provided.
The strikes were first announced by United States President Donald Trump on December 25, 2025, who said American forces carried out lethal strikes against Islamic State‑linked militants in northwest Nigeria.
The Federal Government of Nigeria later confirmed the operation as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation with the United States.
The Sokoto airstrikes form part of a broader U.S.‑Nigeria strategic effort to target extremist elements in the region, amid persistent insecurity attributed to various armed groups operating in the Sahel corridor and northwestern Nigeria.
While officials await the results of formal assessments, the footage has circulated among security analysts and media, providing visual confirmation of engagement between military forces and suspected militants.
The ongoing review is expected to inform future collaboration and operations aimed at dismantling extremist networks and improving regional security.
Authorities have indicated that a full damage assessment and official briefing will be issued once analysis of the strikes is complete, which will provide clearer details on casualties, strategic impacts and implications for Nigeria’s counterterrorism campaign.
