NAF Bombards Lakurawa, Bandit Camps in Zamfara after US airstrike 

In a major escalation of counterterrorism operations across the North-West, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has carried out devastating precision airstrikes on notorious bandit enclaves in Zamfara State, coming on the heels of United States missile strikes that crippled Lakurawa terrorist camps in Sokoto.

The Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, Sector 2, executed two high-impact air interdiction missions at Turba Hill and the camp of feared bandit leader, Kachalla Dogo Sule, both located in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State. Several bandits were neutralised, while key operational facilities were destroyed.

Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, described the strikes as a significant breakthrough in the sustained offensive against armed banditry.

He said the operations were intelligence-driven, relying on credible, multi-source intelligence and persistent surveillance. The first strike targeted Turba Hill, identified as a major bandit hideout. According to Ejodame, aerial reconnaissance revealed intense human activity and a zinc-roofed structure serving as the nerve centre of the enclave.

“Following positive identification, the target was engaged with precision. Post-strike assessments confirmed the complete destruction of the structure and the neutralisation of several bandits,” he said.

The second mission struck Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, a notorious stronghold linked to the manufacture and deployment of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Intelligence reports had connected the camp to recent deadly IED attacks along the Dan Sadau–Magami axis.

“The precision strike triggered intense fires that destroyed multiple active structures, effectively crippling the group’s IED production and operational capacity,” Ejodame added.

He noted that the airstrikes had significantly degraded bandit networks in Zamfara and reaffirmed the NAF’s commitment, in collaboration with other components of Operation Fansan Yamma, to denying criminal elements safe havens and restoring lasting peace across the North-West.

Army Confirms US Missile Strikes on Sokoto Terror Camps

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has confirmed that recent United States airstrikes targeted Lakurawa terrorist camps in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, delivering a heavy blow to the group’s operational capability.

A senior Army Headquarters source disclosed that the strikes were conducted in coordination with US Africa Command (AFRICOM) following actionable intelligence on terrorist movements along the Kaurau axis. The missile strikes hit camps in the Bauni Forest near Waria and Alkassim villages on December 25.

Follow-up patrols carried out the next day confirmed extensive destruction of terrorist infrastructure. Troops later recovered missile debris in Kajiji town, Tambuwal LGA, Kebbi State, believed to be components of Tomahawk missiles.

Army engineers identified some of the debris as fuel boosters weighing about 300 kilograms, capable of penetrating soft ground up to two metres. The Army assured residents that investigations and recovery operations were ongoing and urged the public to report any suspicious objects.

Eight Killed as Terrorists Attack Kebbi Communities

Despite the military gains, terror struck Kebbi State as gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Kaiwa, Gelawu and Gebbe villages in Shanga Local Government Area, killing at least eight people and injuring several others.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that seven victims died during the attacks, while another later succumbed to injuries in hospital. One injured person is currently receiving treatment.

Police spokesperson, CSP Bashir Usman, said security forces had intensified patrols and surveillance across the affected areas to prevent further attacks, though details of ongoing operations could not be disclosed.

Residents described the assaults as unprecedented and devastating, forcing many villagers to flee their homes in fear.

Troops Kill 80 Terrorists, Rescue 34 Victims Nationwide

In a broader update, the Nigerian Army announced that troops killed over 80 terrorists, rescued 34 kidnapped civilians and arrested several criminal suspects in coordinated operations across multiple states between December 25 and 29.

The operations spanned Borno, Adamawa, Sokoto, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara, Plateau, Delta, Cross River and the Federal Capital Territory.

In Borno State, air and ground offensives neutralised 57 terrorists and disrupted ISWAP/JAS networks, while operations in Niger and Katsina repelled coordinated attacks and recovered stolen livestock.

Troops also rescued kidnapped civilians in Kebbi and Plateau states, arrested illegal miners in the FCT, apprehended armed robbery suspects, and dismantled oil bunkering and piracy syndicates in Delta and Cross River states.

The Army said the successes underscore its resolve to sustain intelligence-driven operations, protect lives and property, and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks across the country.

Sokoto Operation: FG Reassures Investors, Says Nigeria’s Economy Remain Stable

The Federal Government has reassured investors, financial analysts, and international development partners that Nigeria remains peaceful, stable, and economically resilient despite concerns following a joint security operation in Sokoto carried out on Christmas Day.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, gave the assurance in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, explaining that the operation—conducted in collaboration with the United States—was a targeted, intelligence-led action aimed solely at terrorist elements threatening national security and economic activities.

“What Nigeria is decisively confronting—alongside trusted international partners—is terrorism,” Edun said, stressing that the context of the operation was essential to understanding its broader economic implications.

He described the Sokoto operation as “precise, intelligence-led, and focused exclusively on terrorist elements that threaten innocent lives, national stability, and economic activity,” adding that the action was designed to strengthen security rather than unsettle financial markets or undermine investor confidence.

“Far from destabilising markets or weakening confidence, such actions strengthen the foundations of peace, protect productive communities, and reinforce the conditions required for sustainable economic growth. Security and economic stability are inseparable; every effort to safeguard Nigerians is, by definition, pro-growth and pro-investment,” the minister said.

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Edun noted that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria has recorded measurable progress in security improvements and economic reforms, reflected in key macroeconomic indicators.

According to him, Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.98 per cent in Q3 2025, following a strong 4.23 per cent growth in Q2, with expectations of an even stronger performance in Q4 2025. He added that inflation has slowed for the seventh consecutive period and now stands below 15 per cent, attributing the improvement to coordinated fiscal and monetary policies.

The minister said Nigeria’s financial markets remain stable, with both domestic and international debt markets functioning efficiently under prudent fiscal management. He recalled that the country recently secured credit rating upgrades from Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s, describing them as independent validation of the government’s reform agenda.

“We have maintained fiscal discipline, prioritised efficiency, and protected macroeconomic stability, demonstrating resilience in the face of external shocks,” Edun said.

Referring to President Tinubu’s recent national address, Edun stated that the administration’s focus for 2026 is to consolidate gains made in 2025, strengthen economic resilience, and sustain momentum toward inclusive and durable growth.

Assuring local and foreign investors ahead of market reopening on Monday, December 29, 2025, Edun said confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction remains justified.

“As markets reopen, investors can be confident that Nigeria remains reform-driven, stable, and focused on growth. The fundamentals are strengthening, the policy direction is clear, and this administration’s resolve to protect lives and secure prosperity is unwavering,” he said.

He concluded by reaffirming the country’s investment outlook: “Nigeria remains open for business, anchored in peace, and firmly focused on the future.”

Sokoto Operation: FG Reassures Investors, Says Nigeria’s Economy Remain Stable

US Airstrikes Disrupt Terrorists in Northwest, Spark Bandit Movement, Security Alerts

Suspected terrorists and bandits in northwestern Nigeria are reportedly relocating following US missile strikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to community leaders and security sources. The strikes, announced by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, targeted locations believed to be used by Islamic State militants in Sokoto and Kwara states.

Although no fatalities were recorded at the two primary strike sites, the attacks caused injuries and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. In Jabo, Sokoto State, a missile struck farmland, while buildings were affected in Offa, Kwara State. Officials in Tangaza Local Government Area reported further strikes on suspected Lakurawa armed group hideouts, with residents noting unusual movements of armed groups.

The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West, Benue State, Daniel Abomtse, warned of an influx of armed herders and fleeing bandits into local communities, urging the continuation of similar operations across Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Niger, and Plateau states.

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Community leaders in Sokoto reported that bandits abandoned their hideouts and familiar routes, with some moving in small groups toward remote forests or crossing into border communities to evade surveillance. The Sokoto State Government said intelligence assessments are ongoing, with security agencies on high alert to prevent infiltration of safer areas.

Security experts warn that terrorists may attempt to blend with law-abiding citizens or seek support from international terror networks. Kabiru Adamu, CEO of Beacon Consulting, noted that the militants could exploit cyberspace for propaganda, spinning the strikes as an attack on Muslims to garner sympathy, membership, and funding.

Professor Tar Usman, of the Nigerian Defence Academy, explained that the strikes could disrupt terrorist planning and heighten fear within camps, though the intervention will not immediately end insurgent activities. He stressed the importance of vigilance to prevent terrorists from mixing with civilians while adapting new tactics.

Meanwhile, the US has resumed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over the Sambisa Forest, Borno State, using aircraft such as the Gulfstream V, a long-range jet adapted for surveillance missions.

The US-Nigeria coordinated strikes mark a significant effort to weaken Islamic State networks in Nigeria, with both nations emphasizing continued collaboration to prevent further attacks and curb terrorism in the region.

US Airstrikes Disrupt Terrorists in Northwest, Spark Bandit Movement, Security Alerts