Armed groups have ramped up attacks across northern Nigeria in the wake of United States airstrikes targeting Islamic State-affiliated militants in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025.
President Donald Trump announced the operation on Truth Social, describing it as a “powerful and deadly strike” against terrorists accused of targeting Christians, with vows of further action if violence persists.
The strikes, coordinated with Nigerian authorities, hit camps in Sokoto’s Bauni forest, killing multiple militants according to US Africa Command.
Investigations reveal a surge in violence between December 25, 2025, and January 2, 2026, with at least 47 people killed and 35 kidnapped.
Attacks by bandits, Boko Haram, and ISWAP fighters struck communities in states including Adamawa, Zamfara, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Yobe, Kano, Kogi, Kebbi, and others.
A tally from media reports indicates over 82 people affected, including injuries, with actual abduction figures potentially higher.Specific incidents include Boko Haram’s nighttime raid on Mubang and Zar villages in Adamawa’s Hong Local Government Area, killing 14 and burning homes near Sambisa forest.
In Kwara State, bandits abducted residents from communities like Adanla and Aafin, including a traditional ruler and his son. Zamfara saw 16 women kidnapped and two killed in Sabon-Layi village, while Plateau reported seven farmers slain in Bum.
ISWAP claimed mortar attacks on a military camp in Yobe and a raid killing 11 described as “hostile” Christians, marking a new terminology in their statements. Bandits also struck Kano villages in a revenge mission after military losses, engaging forces in prolonged battles.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged sustained strikes to protect religious freedom.Community leaders report displaced terrorists infiltrating Niger, Kaduna, and southwestern areas via borders with Katsina, Zamfara, and Kebbi, heightening rural tensions.
No attacks have been recorded in Sokoto since the US operation, but the broader escalation underscores ongoing security challenges amid calls for reinforced military presence.