By Faith Chondol
United States of America military operation in northeastern Nigeria in December 25,2025 killed 155 fighters from the Lakurawa terrorist group, according to a report by The New Humanitarian.
The publication further states that approximately 200 additional militants were reported missing in the aftermath.
The air strikes, conducted with Nigerian authorization, are said to have employed Tomahawk missiles fired from a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Guinea.
Three districts in Sokoto State—Isa, Tangaza, and Tambuwal—were targeted, though Tangaza is the area most identified as a Lakurawa stronghold. Isa is known as a bandit enclave under the control of Bello Turji, while Tambuwal is not typically linked to major armed violence.
Details remain scarce regarding the impact on Isa, and Turji is thought to have survived. However, a Lakurawa camp in Tangaza sustained heavy casualties.
The report describes two missile strikes: the first killed an estimated 30 fighters, and the second struck as survivors gathered, causing the majority of the fatalities. The total death toll includes 19 who later died from their injuries.
A key Lakurawa commander, Dando Sibu, narrowly escaped by leaving the site minutes before the second strike. In the following week, the group also lost nearly half of its cattle, a critical asset for funding.
Despite these losses, Lakurawa militants carried out a retaliatory attack on Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State on December 31. The prolonged assault killed at least 21 civilians, nine of whom were beheaded.
The U.S. operation specifically targeted the Lakurawa group and did not involve other jihadist factions operating in Nigeria, such as Boko Haram or the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru.
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