U.S. airstrikes struck Islamic State militants in Nigeria’s Sokoto state on Thursday, marking a significant escalation in the country’s long-standing security crisis.
The Strike and Its Context
President Donald Trump posted on social media that the “powerful and deadly” strikes in Sokoto state were carried out against Islamic State militants “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” The Nigerian government said the airstrikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination with the United States. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added on X, “More to come…”
Who Is Targeted?
The militants linked to the Islamic State include an offshoot of Boko Haram called the Islamic State West Africa Province and the lesser-known Islamic State Sahel Province, locally known as Lakurawa. Security analysts believe the strikes likely hit Lakurawa, which has become more lethal in border states such as Sokoto and Kebbi over the past year. The group’s roots lie in neighboring Niger and its activity grew after the 2023 military coup that strained Nigeria-Niger relations.
James Barnett of the Hudson Institute noted that Lakurawa “overstayed their welcome, clashing with some of the community leaders … and enforcing a harsh interpretation of sharia law that alienated much of the rural population.” Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa said, “Communities now openly say that Lakurawa are more oppressive and dangerous than the bandits they claim to protect them from.” He also pointed out that Lakurawa controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi and is known for killings, kidnapping, rape and armed robbery.
Some attacks attributed to Lakurawa are actually carried out by the Islamic State Sahel Province, which has expanded from Niger’s Dosso region into northwestern Nigeria. The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project reported that “ISSP has maintained a low profile, operating covertly to infiltrate and entrench itself along the Niger-Nigeria border, and is now also expanding its operations toward the Beninese border.”
Security Landscape in Nigeria
Security experts argue that the crisis is more a governance problem than a purely military one. The absence of a strong state presence in conflict hotspots makes recruitment easy and fuels poverty, hunger and unemployment. Former Minister of Defense Christopher Musa once said that military action is only 30 % of what is needed to fix the country’s security crisis, while the remaining 70 % depends on good governance. Samuel added, “The absence of the state in remote communities is making it easy for non-state actors to come in and present themselves to the people as the best alternative government.”
Impact and Future Actions
The U.S. strikes are seen as crucial support for Nigeria’s overstretched security forces, which face multiple crises across regions. In Sokoto, the military often conducts airstrikes against militant hideouts and has launched mass recruitment of security personnel. Analysts warn that operations against gangs are rarely sustained; militants frequently move on motorcycles through forests that connect several northern states and use hostages-including schoolchildren-as cover, complicating airstrikes.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. airstrikes on Thursday targeted Islamic State militants, likely the Lakurawa group, in Sokoto state.
- The strikes were part of a U.S.-Nigeria intelligence and strategic coordination effort.
- Nigeria’s security crisis stems largely from governance gaps, with militancy fueled by a lack of state presence.
The airstrikes underscore the growing partnership between the United States and Nigeria as the country grapples with an escalating insurgency that threatens both Christians and Muslims alike.
