Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has disclosed that military authorities are still evaluating the impact of recently conducted air strikes carried out in collaboration with United States forces, as part of efforts to counter extremist elements in the country’s northwest.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Major-General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, confirmed that a formal battle damage assessment remains underway. He assured the public that details of the evaluation would be shared once the process is finalised, amid ongoing debate about the effectiveness of the operation.
President Donald Trump had earlier announced on Christmas Day that U.S. forces, acting at Nigeria’s request, had launched precision strikes against Islamic State-linked militant positions in the north-west. The Federal Government subsequently affirmed that the action formed part of broader counter-terrorism cooperation between both nations.
Maj-Gen. Onoja stressed that intelligence preceding the strikes confirmed the presence of hostile elements in the targeted areas, a fact that informed the decision to act. He added that certain details had been withheld from public disclosure for operational security reasons.
In an effort to bolster security on the ground, the defence spokesman said the military was encouraging civilians to remain vigilant and share timely information with security agencies to help prevent further terrorist incursions into local communities. He emphasised that continuous monitoring and coordination with field commanders were central to these efforts.
Responding to criticisms of the joint strikes, Maj-Gen. Onoja noted that the Armed Forces would concentrate on their core operational duties, while other relevant agencies address public concerns. He also urged members of the public who had come into possession of any remnants from the operation to surrender them to security officials, highlighting safety risks associated with unexploded ordnance.
The DHQ reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups into the new year as part of a broader security strategy.
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