Footage obtained by Sunday PUNCH has revealed that several terrorists were killed, while their hideouts and vehicles were destroyed during United States airstrikes carried out in Sokoto State on December 25.
The video of the operation, which has not yet been declassified by the military but was sighted by a correspondent on Saturday, showed three separate airstrikes conducted on terrorist enclaves between December 24 and 25, 2025.
A secondary explosion was seen shortly after the first strike, indicating the likely presence of explosive materials at the targeted location.
The footage also captured suspected terrorists attempting to flee the area after the initial bombardment.
The fleeing elements were later engaged by the strike forces, with several vehicles visibly destroyed during the operation.
However, the precise number of terrorists killed or vehicles damaged could not be independently verified based on the footage alone.
Military sources said a detailed battle damage assessment was necessary to accurately determine the overall impact of the strikes.
Earlier, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Michael Onoja, confirmed that such an assessment was ongoing and assured that findings would be made public upon completion.
Speaking while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja on December 31, 2025, Onoja 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.”
When asked whether terrorists were present at the locations hit, Onoja said intelligence reports had confirmed their presence in the area before the operation.
The United States President, Donald Trump, had earlier announced on Christmas Day that American forces carried out lethal strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
The Federal Government later confirmed the operation, describing it as part of ongoing counterterrorism collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
Despite the confirmation, some commentators have argued that the operation yielded no tangible results.
