A recent investigation by The New Humanitarian reveals that American airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria in late December 2025 killed approximately 155 members of the Lakurawa terrorist faction. The operation, coordinated with Nigerian forces, also left an estimated 200 additional fighters unaccounted for in the following week.
The strikes reportedly involved Tomahawk missiles launched from a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Guinea, targeting areas within Sokoto State. While three districts—Isa, Tangaza, and Tambuwal—were hit, the Tangaza area is identified as a primary Lakurawa stronghold and suffered the most severe casualties.
According to the report, the attack occurred in two stages. An initial missile strike killed roughly 30 fighters. When surviving members gathered at the site to aid the wounded, a second missile struck, causing the majority of the fatalities. Notable Lakurawa commander Dando Sibu narrowly escaped, having left the location minutes before the follow-up strike. The group also reportedly lost nearly half of its cattle, a key asset for funding its operations.
Despite these losses, the faction retaliated days later with a deadly assault on Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State, killing at least 21 civilians.
The U.S. action was specifically directed at the Lakurawa group and did not target other jihadist organizations operating in the region, such as Boko Haram or Ansaru.
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