Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has defended Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States in conducting airstrikes against terrorist elements, describing it as a necessary step to safeguard the nation.
Keyamo made the remarks on 𝕏, emphasising that rejecting foreign assistance in combating terrorism would have been unwise.
“When your house is on fire, it would be foolish to stop anyone with fire extinguishers from coming in to put out the flames,” he said, stressing that the country’s security should take precedence over individual interests.
The comments come amid public discussions over the Christmas Day airstrikes in Sokoto, which were approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to a statement from the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the precision operations targeted two major Islamic State (ISIS) enclaves in the Bauni Forest area of Tangaza Local Government, Sokoto State. The locations were reportedly used as staging grounds by foreign ISIS operatives entering Nigeria from the Sahel, in collaboration with local affiliates, to plan large-scale attacks.
The airstrikes were executed between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on Friday, December 26, 2025, with full involvement of the Nigerian Armed Forces, under the supervision of the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, and the Chief of Defence Staff.
The operation deployed 16 GPS-guided precision munitions using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea, successfully neutralising the targeted ISIS elements. While debris fell in Jabo (Tambuwal LGA, Sokoto State) and Offa (Kwara State), no civilian casualties were recorded, and authorities promptly secured the affected areas.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to combating terrorism, ensuring national security, and coordinating with strategic international partners to maintain regional stability. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant as security operations continue against all terrorist threats.
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