Video footage has emerged confirming that several terrorists were killed during United States airstrikes conducted in parts of Sokoto State in late December, with multiple hideouts and vehicles destroyed in the operation.
The footage, obtained from military sources and reviewed over the weekend, shows a series of precision strikes carried out between December 24 and 25, 2025, targeting locations identified as terrorist enclaves. The operation involved three separate bombardments on suspected camps believed to be occupied by armed extremist elements.
A significant secondary explosion was recorded shortly after the first strike, indicating the possible presence of stored explosives or ammunition at the site. Moments later, individuals suspected to be terrorists were seen fleeing the area as bombardment continued.
Further visuals captured vehicles attempting to escape the vicinity, several of which were subsequently destroyed during follow up strikes. While the footage clearly shows heavy damage and casualties, the exact number of terrorists neutralised and assets destroyed could not be independently verified.
Senior military officials disclosed that a detailed battle damage assessment was still ongoing to establish the full extent of the impact. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, confirmed that intelligence reports had verified terrorist presence in the affected locations prior to the strikes.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on December 31, 2025, Onoja said the assessment process was standard procedure and assured that full details would be released after completion.
The airstrikes were earlier announced by United States President Donald Trump on Christmas Day, describing them as successful operations against Islamic State affiliated elements in north western Nigeria. The Federal Government later confirmed the strikes, noting that they were carried out as part of bilateral counterterrorism cooperation.
Despite criticisms from some quarters questioning the effectiveness of the operation, the footage provides clear visual evidence of significant damage to terrorist infrastructure.
