The Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State has said the recent United States airstrike in the area was targeted at suspected terrorist routes, but stressed that casualty figures are yet to be officially confirmed.
Speaking to journalists, the council chairman explained that the location hit by the strike is known locally as a major transit corridor frequently used by terrorist elements operating around the border communities. He said preliminary information available to the local government suggested the strike was aimed at disrupting terrorist movements and logistics.
In an earlier comment, the chairman indicated that the strike “definitely hit terrorists”, citing the strategic importance of the area to armed groups. However, he later clarified that a full damage and casualty assessment was still ongoing, noting that local authorities could not immediately verify how many terrorists were killed or injured.
According to official statements from the Sokoto State Government and security sources, no civilian deaths have been recorded so far as a result of the airstrike. Authorities maintained that the operation was carefully executed to avoid civilian targets.
While Nigerian and U.S. officials have confirmed that the operation was directed at Islamic State–linked terror cells operating in the North-West, no specific number of terrorist casualties has been publicly released. Military sources say verification is still underway due to the difficult terrain and security situation in the affected area.
The airstrike, which occurred between December 25 and 26, is part of a broader joint counter-terrorism effort aimed at degrading extremist networks operating along Nigeria’s border regions.
As of the time of filing this report, civilian casualties remain officially recorded as zero, while the exact number of terrorist fatalities is yet to be confirmed by authorities.
