Video footage reviewed by Sunday PUNCH has provided visual confirmation that United States airstrikes carried out in Sokoto State in late December 2025 targeted and killed several terrorists, destroyed vehicles and struck suspected hideouts.
Although the precise number of casualties remains unverified, according to security sources and footage analysis.
The footage, which has not been officially declassified by the Nigerian military, was sighted by a PUNCH correspondent on Saturday, January 10, 2026. It showed three separate strikes on terrorist hideouts between December 24 and 25, 2025, including secondary explosions that suggested the presence of explosive materials at the target locations.
In the footage, suspected terrorists were seen fleeing the strike areas following the bombardments, with several vehicles destroyed and the fleeing elements reportedly engaged by the attacks.
However, analysts and security sources emphasised that the available images and clips alone cannot independently confirm the total number of terrorists killed or the extent of damage inflicted.
Military officials have stated that a comprehensive battle damage assessment is necessary to determine the full impact of the operation.
Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, told journalists in Abuja on December 31, 2025, that defence authorities were still evaluating the outcomes of the joint strikes.
He said: “On the United States strikes in conjunction with Nigerian forces, there is a process of battle damage assessment. We are still in that process, and I can assure you that once that is completed, we will communicate to the public all our observations. In due course, we will give you all the information that you require from the U.S.–Nigeria strikes.”
Gen Onoja also confirmed that intelligence reports prior to the operation indicated the presence of terrorists at the targeted sites, although he did not disclose specific details about the groups involved.
The United States had earlier announced the strikes on Christmas Day (December 25, 2025), with President Donald Trump stating that American forces, coordinated with Nigerian authorities, conducted lethal strikes against Islamic State‑linked militants in northwest Nigeria.
The Federal Government of Nigeria subsequently confirmed the operation, describing it as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation with the United States.
The Sokoto strikes form part of broader efforts by both nations to confront extremist elements operating in the region, amid persistent insecurity attributed to various armed groups along the Sahel corridor and western parts of Nigeria.
While details of casualty figures and operational outcomes remain under review, the footage offers visual evidence of engagement between military forces and suspected militants.
Officials have said that final results from the battle damage assessment are expected to be shared publicly once complete, providing clearer insights into the strategic impact of the airstrikes and implications for ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria.
