of DefenseFollowing surprise US strikes targeting militants in Nigeria, it remains unclear who or what was actually hit as Washington and Abuja tell slightly different stories. The two countries agree that the strikes hit targets linked to Islamic State, but neither one has provided details on which of Nigeria’s myriad armed groups were targeted. Nigeria is battling multiple jihadist organisations, including several linked to Islamic State. Neighbouring countries are also fighting IS-linked groups, and there are worries those conflicts are spilling into the country. Some researchers have recently linked some members of the armed group known as Lakurawa — the main jihadist group located in Sokoto State — to Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), but other analysts have disputed those links.

Source: The Guardian December 27, 2025 12:34 UTC