The United States military carried out airstrikes in Nigeria's Sokoto State on Christmas Day. These strikes targeted an Islamist group. Former President Donald Trump called this group "ISIS Terrorist Scum." US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the operation hit "Isis camps." They also said many terrorists died. However, there are still questions. We do not know the exact target. The number of people killed is also unclear. The effect of the strikes is not fully understood.
The operation happened in the Tangaza area. This region has security problems. AFRICOM said it was a strong hit against extremists. They accused the group of killing innocent Christians. Researchers identified the group as Lakurawa. It is debated what they really do. They are thought to extort money. They also force a strict version of Islamic law. Violence in the area is often from other armed groups.
Debris from the bombs fell in Jabo town. This town is far from the target area. A hotel also got damaged. This hotel was very far away. Residents saw fighters leaving on motorcycles. This suggests a messy situation. It is different from precise strikes.
Malik Samuel is a researcher. He said about one hundred fighters died. Two hundred others went missing. This is a large number. Remaining fighters might go to Niger.
US officials said this was a single event. It might have been to show action against a threat. This narrative appeals to some voters. However, it is not clear why Lakurawa was targeted. Their activities seem different from other violence. US and Nigerian authorities have not shared much information. This makes things unclear. We still have questions about the strike's impact.