Sources within the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) revealed that intelligence reports confirm many terrorists are on the move after the precision strikes hit their camps in Sokoto State on Christmas Day. "We know they are fleeing," one senior military official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "We have solid information on their movements, and we're actively tracking them through surveillance operations.
The airstrikes, announced by US President Donald Trump as a "powerful and deadly" operation against ISIS elements accused of targeting Christians, were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials, including Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized that the joint effort stemmed from shared intelligence and was aimed at disrupting terrorist networks without religious bias.Local accounts from Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto, where the strikes targeted Lakurawa group camps linked to Islamic State affiliates, suggest significant disruption.
Tangaza chairman Isa Salihu Bashir reported that many fighters were killed, with survivors fleeing toward the border with Niger.DHQ spokesman Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba has stressed the military's commitment to capitalizing on this momentum. Troops are conducting intensified intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions to prevent the displaced militants from regrouping or launching counterattacks.
Experts note that while the strikes have degraded terrorist capabilities in the region, sustained ground operations will be crucial to fully neutralize the threat. As Nigeria continues its long-running battle against insurgency, this heightened vigilance underscores the ongoing collaboration with international partners like the United States.
The development comes amid broader concerns over foreign fighters infiltrating from the Sahel, highlighting the evolving nature of the security challenges in northwest Nigeria.
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