Incoming reports indicate that ISWAP insurgents launched attacks on Ja Jibiri and Ladu villages in Yobe State on December 27, 2025, just two days after US airstrikes targeted their enclaves in Sokoto State. The raids resulted in injuries, an abduction, and looting of a health facility. Security forces remain on high alert amid ongoing efforts to track the militants.
On December 25, 2025, the United States conducted airstrikes against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in northwest Nigeria, targeting enclaves in Sokoto and Kwara states. The operation, coordinated with Nigerian authorities, was described by US President Donald Trump as a surprise Christmas present to the militants. Trump told Politico, “They were going to do it earlier... And I said, ‘nope, let’s give a Christmas present.’ They didn’t think that was coming, but we hit them hard. Every camp got decimated.”
Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, emphasized the collaborative nature of the strikes, stating, “We have been working closely with the Americans... This is what we’ve always been hoping for, to work with the Americans, to combat terrorism, to stop the death of innocent Nigerians. It’s a collaborative effort.” The US Africa Command confirmed the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian forces, following an earlier statement that they occurred at Nigeria's request.
Despite these efforts, ISWAP militants struck back on December 27, 2025, at around 12:20 a.m., raiding Ja Jibiri and Ladu villages in Yobe State. In Ja Jibiri, insurgents shot village head Lawan Hassan, 45, in the left shoulder. Hassan was rushed to Geidam Hospital for treatment. The attackers then moved to Ladu village, where they abducted Madu Kura, a 40-year-old Toyota Hilux driver, and broke into the Primary Health Care Medical Centre. They looted medical consumables, valuables, and stole a Golf motor car.
US Congressman Moore later claimed the airstrikes prevented potential Christmas attacks by the group. Meanwhile, political reactions emerged, with the Northern Youth Frontiers (NYF) defending President Bola Tinubu's administration against claims by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the strikes highlighted governmental incompetence. NYF coordinator Saminu Tukur called for transparency on the number of terrorists neutralized and urged unity in addressing inherited security challenges. Security personnel in Yobe are monitoring the situation closely as efforts to track the insurgents continue.
