Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Public Communications and Media to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described details surrounding the recent US airstrikes on ISIS-linked militants in Sokoto State as "sketchy," while acknowledging the US's global authority to target ISIS affiliates.
In an interview with Sky News on December 26, 2025, Bwala noted that while the United States has broad jurisdictional power to conduct operations against ISIS and its branches worldwide, it may lack specific congressional authorization for actions against groups designated as terrorists solely under Nigerian law.
"I'm sure the American government has jurisdictional power over operations against ISIS and their ancillaries around the world. They may not have specific authorization by Congress to fight terrorist organizations that are designated as such in Nigeria," Bwala stated.
He emphasized that groups like Boko Haram and its affiliates are universally viewed as terrorist entities in Nigeria, adding: "This is sketchy, right? In coming days or hours, we’re going to have more intelligence and a report about exact targets whether they were members of ISIS or Boko Haram or bandits."
The comments come after US President Donald Trump announced on December 25 that American forces conducted precision airstrikes in northwest Nigeria's Sokoto State, targeting what he described as ISIS militants responsible for killing Christians.
The operation, coordinated with Nigerian authorities, reportedly killed multiple militants using munitions launched from MQ-9 Reaper drones and possibly naval assets.
Nigerian officials confirmed the joint operation targeted ISIS enclaves in the Bauni forest, used for planning attacks, with no civilian casualties reported.
Analysts suggest the primary targets were likely members of the Lakurawa group, an ISIS-affiliated faction active in the northwest, distinct from the more prominent ISWAP in the northeast.
The strikes follow months of US concerns over security in Nigeria, including its redesignation as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom violations and prior threats of intervention amid claims of targeted violence against Christians claims disputed by Nigerian authorities as oversimplifying complex banditry and insurgency issues affecting all communities.
Bwala later clarified that the strikes were a collaborative effort against terrorism, not tied to any specific religion or ethnicity. More details on casualties and precise targets are expected as investigations continue.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
this guy is an embarrassment, why go for interviews to say rubbish, why did you grant the interview when you did not have details on the strike? how can he say it's still sketchy
ReplyDelete