In a bold defiance of recent military pressure, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have carried out fresh assaults on communities in Yobe State. The attacks occurred merely two days after the United States conducted airstrikes against the group's positions in neighbouring Sokoto State.
Details of the Midnight Raid
According to security reports, the well-armed insurgents targeted Ja Jibiri and Ladu villages in the early hours of December 27, 2025. The assault began around 12:20 a.m., catching residents by surprise. In Ja Jibiri, the terrorists shot the 45-year-old village head, Lawan Hassan, in his left shoulder during the violent incursion.
The assailants then moved to Ladu village, where they escalated their campaign of terror. There, they abducted a 40-year-old driver named Madu Kura, who was in possession of a Toyota Hilux vehicle. The group also forcibly entered the Primary Health Care Medical Centre, ransacking the facility and stealing medical supplies and other valuable items. Before fleeing, the terrorists also made off with a Golf model car.
Response and Aftermath
The injured village head, Lawan Hassan, was quickly transported to Geidam Hospital to receive urgent medical treatment for his gunshot wound. Security forces in the region have been placed on high alert following the brazen attacks. Operations to monitor the situation and track the fleeing insurgents are currently ongoing, according to sources on the ground.
The attacks come in the immediate wake of a significant military action against the terrorist group. On Christmas Day, the United States military executed air strikes targeting ISIL (ISIS) fighters in northwest Nigeria, with a primary focus on locations within Sokoto and Kwara States.
Official Statements on Counter-Terrorism Cooperation
Former US President Donald Trump commented on the timing of the Sokoto operation, stating it was originally scheduled for Wednesday but was delayed on his order. "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," Trump told Politico.
On the Nigerian side, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, addressed the situation on Friday. He described the US strikes as "part of joint ongoing operations" and emphasized the collaborative nature of the counter-terrorism efforts. "We have been working closely with the Americans," Tuggar said. "This is what we've always been hoping for, to work with... other countries, to combat terrorism, to stop the death of innocent Nigerians. It's a collaborative effort."
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) corroborated this, stating the strikes in Sokoto were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities. An initial statement posted on social media platform X, which was later removed, indicated the operations were carried out at the specific request of the Nigerian government.
These events highlight the persistent and complex threat posed by terrorist groups in the region, even in the face of international military intervention. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges for security forces in Nigeria's northeast.
