A Nigerian security expert has described the recent United States airstrikes carried out in Nigeria as unsuccessful, despite the heavy financial cost involved.
Kabir Adamu, a security analyst and head of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, said the strikes failed to weaken terrorist groups or reduce attacks across affected regions.
He stated that continued violence after the operation shows that the objective of the airstrikes was not achieved.
According to him, there is no verifiable evidence to confirm that terrorist camps, fighters, or equipment were destroyed during the operation.
Adamu explained that no confirmed images or intelligence reports have been released to show dead fighters, destroyed bases, weapons, or gun trucks. He said this raises serious doubts about the effectiveness of the strikes.
He also criticised the reported failure of some of the missiles used during the operation. Adamu disclosed that four out of the 16 Tomahawk missiles launched on Christmas Day failed to detonate. He noted that each missile costs about two million dollars, meaning roughly eight million dollars was wasted.
Beyond the financial loss, he said the failure also exposed operational weaknesses. He argued that the Tomahawk missile system was unsuitable for Nigeria’s security challenges.
According to Adamu, Nigeria’s security threats are largely asymmetric and embedded within civilian populations. He said ground operations, supported by intelligence-led tactics, would have produced better results than long-range missile strikes.
He added that the missiles were launched from a US naval destroyer located in the Gulf of Guinea, covering a distance of about 1,000 kilometres. He said intelligence could have changed within that time frame, making the strikes inaccurate.
Adamu listed several possible reasons for the unexploded warheads. These include technical faults, weather issues, mapping errors, and other operational failures.
On intelligence gathering, he said available information suggests the United States relied heavily on intelligence supplied by Nigerian authorities. He noted that US intelligence presence in the region is limited compared to previous years.
He also questioned the choice of the Lakurawa group as the main target of the operation. Adamu described the group as a low-level threat when compared to other armed groups operating in Nigeria.
According to him, groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, Ansaru, and Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad pose greater danger and account for higher fatality figures nationwide.
Adamu further claimed that the airstrikes served political interests within the United States. He said the operation helped ease domestic pressure on US President Donald Trump, especially from Congress.
He pointed out that the strike took place on Christmas Day and targeted Sokoto State, which he described as a symbolic location due to its historical religious significance.
He said Nigeria also gained diplomatically, as the operation helped reduce pressure from the United States. However, he stressed that insecurity across the country remains severe.
Adamu said attacks continued between December 26 and January 13, with several Nigerians killed during the period.
Presenting highlights from Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited’s 2025 annual report, he said Nigeria recorded about 9,000 conflict-related deaths between January and December 2025.
He noted that fatalities increased slightly in December 2025, rising from 451 in November to 498. He said the spike was largely driven by bandit attacks in Zamfara and Katsina states.
However, he said abductions dropped sharply during the same period. According to him, kidnapping cases fell from 970 in November to 406 in December.
On a yearly basis, Adamu said both fatalities and abductions declined compared to 2024. He attributed the improvement to increased law enforcement presence, especially in rural areas.
He cited the deployment of forest guards, improved intelligence gathering, targeted operations against criminal leaders, and the disruption of supply chains as key factors.
He also mentioned better coordination between the federal government and state authorities following directives for closer collaboration on security matters.
Despite these gains, Adamu expressed concern over inconsistent policies across states. He criticised decisions such as the release of bandits in Katsina, describing them as harmful to national security efforts.
Adamu concluded by saying Nigeria is under intense pressure from external partners and internal security challenges.
He urged authorities to focus on cutting off funding, recruitment, mobility, weapons supply, and illegal economic activities sustaining terrorist groups.