The Nigerian Air Force will assume primary responsibility for counterterrorism operations following recent United States strikes against jihadist targets, relying on American reconnaissance flights for intelligence support, a Nigerian official told AFP on Tuesday.
On Christmas night, the United States conducted airstrikes in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, targeting sites linked to the Islamic State group. While Nigeria remains open to future US strikes, officials emphasized that the primary role of the United States will now be intelligence support rather than direct action.
A Longstanding Insurgency
Nigeria has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency since 2009, primarily in the northeast, while armed gangs, often referred to as “bandits,” have established a presence in rural areas of the northwest and north-central regions. Recent strikes targeted Islamic State militants collaborating with the Lakurawa jihadist group and affiliated bandit gangs, according to presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala. Both Nigeria and the United States reported an unspecified number of fighters were killed, although civilian injuries were also reported, including three employees hospitalized in Offa, Kwara State, after debris struck a hotel.
Diplomatic Context and Partnership
The Christmas Day strikes followed months of diplomatic engagement between Abuja and Washington. Nigerian officials had announced in October that disputes over US involvement had been resolved, resulting in a “strengthened partnership.” Analysts noted an uptick in US reconnaissance flights over Nigeria in the weeks preceding the strikes.
Despite these efforts, tensions arose when former US President Donald Trump unilaterally claimed credit for the operations, prompting Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar to assert that the strikes were a joint endeavor. US officials were reportedly difficult to reach until just days before the strikes, when plans were finally shared with Nigerian counterparts.
Regional and Global Security Concerns
Some researchers have suggested connections between members of the Lakurawa group and the Islamic State’s Sahelian Province (ISSP) operating in neighboring Niger, although these links remain contested among analysts. The strikes reflect Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to address both jihadist insurgencies and banditry, while balancing international partnerships to enhance operational effectiveness.
With the Nigerian Air Force now taking the lead, the focus will shift toward integrating intelligence from US reconnaissance flights into domestic operations, signaling a new phase in Nigeria’s fight against extremist groups in the region.
