US President Donald Trump launched a "powerful and deadly strike" against the Islamic State in Nigeria, but it also hit the Offa area of Kwara State.

Tajudeen Alabi, who is a former Special Assistant to the Kwara State governor on security matters, confirmed the incident to the BBC.

Alabi said they heard sounds three times around 9 PM on December 25.

The former Special Assistant said the strike hit and destroyed buildings in several locations, but as of now, they have not reported any casualties, although some people sustained injuries.

"At least, about five structures were destroyed in different locations. We saw some items in a popular hotel, we call it Offa Central Hotel. It looks like a bomb."

Around 1:30am, the US President released a statement saying they sent airstrikes to the northeast. To us, we believe that the drone missed the target and landed in Offa. Before it landed, I am sure it had already weakened; if not, we would have recorded some casualties. We thank God that it was the structures that were affected.

"And this morning, people are there to sympathize. They found the damaged drones, some of the parts, you can see them in the building that collapsed. That is what happened in Offa since last night," Alabi said.

The Nigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also confirmed the strikes, stating that they are collaborating with America to carry them out.

In a statement on their X account, the ministry said Nigeria is cooperating with international partners including America to address the threats of violent terrorism.
They say the collaboration led to "precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria and by air strikes in the northwest."

"A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, successfully neutralizing the targeted ISIS elements that were attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor.
During the course of the operation, remains from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas.
Many people have been commenting on the matter, including opposition parties.

The main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, said in a statement they released on Friday that they are concerned about the way the information reached Nigerians.

They say, "the Federal government should be the first to report the news to sensitize Nigerians instead of waiting to confirm stories that are already out, unless they hear the information like other people."
Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore said in a statement that this airstrike makes "the country to be reduced to a bystander as their sovereignty is being violated under the direction of US President Donald Trump.
He added that it is not Washington's job to protect Nigeria but better leadership.

Meanwhile, Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi suggested that this strike in Sokoto has turned Nigeria into a theater of war and said that if Nigeria was looking for military assistance, they should have used China, Turkey, or Pakistan.
Oga Gumi gave reasons, saying that U.S. involvement in Nigeria would attract serious anti-U.S. forces and turn the country into a battlefield.

He therefore called on the government to stop the military collaboration it has with the U.S. and instead seek help from the countries they have already spoken to.

26 December 2025Read am in 4 minsUS President Donald Trump bin launch "powerful and deadly strike" against di Islamic State for Nigeria but e also hit Offa area of Kwara State.Tajudeen Alabi, wey be former Special Assistant to Kwara State govnor on security matas confam di incident to di BBC.Alabi say dem hear sound three times around 9pm on 25 December.Di former Special Assistant say di strike hit and destroy buildings for several locations but as of now dem neva report any casualty but some pipo sustain injuries."At least, na about five structures destroy for different locations. We see some items for one popular hotel, we dey call am Offa Central Hotel. E be like bomb.""Around 1:30am, US President release statement say dem send airstrikes to northeast. To us, we believe say di drone miss di target and land for Offa. Bifor e land, I sure say e don weak, if not, we for don record some casualties. We tank God say na di structures dey affected."And dis morning, pipo dey dia to sympathise. Dem feem di damaged drones, some of di parts, you see am for di building wey collapse. Dat na wetin happun for Offa since yesterday night," Alabi tok.Nigeria confam airstrikes on terrorist targetsNigeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs wey also confam di strikes say dem collaborate wit America to carry am out.For statement ontop dia X account, di ministry say Nigeria dey cooperate wit international partners including America to address di threat of terrorism and violent extremism.Dem say di collabo lead to "precision hits on terrorist targets for Nigeria and by air strikes for di northwest.""A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions nai we deploy using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, e successfully neutralise di targeted ISIS elements wey dey attempt to penetrate Nigeria from di Sahel corridor.During di course of di operation, remains from expended munitions fall for Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and for Offa, Kwara State, near di premises of a hotel. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secure di affected areas."Nigerians react to airstrikes Many pipo don dey comment on di mata including opposition parties.Di main opposition, di Peoples Democratic Party tok for inside statement wey dem drop on Friday say, dem dey concerned ova di way di information reach Nigerians .Dem tok say, "di Federal govment suppose be di first to report di news to fit sensitise Nigerians instead to wait to confam tori wey don already dey outside, unless dem hear di informate like oda pipo".Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore tok for statement say dis airstrike make "di kontri to dey reduced to bystander as dia sovereignty dey violated under di direction of US President Donald Trump".E add say no be di work of Washington to protect Nigeria but beta leadership.Meanwhile, Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi suggest say dis strike for Sokoto don turn Nigeria to theatre of war and tok say if na military assistance Nigeria bin dey find, dem for use China, Turkey or Pakistan.Oga Gumi give im reason say, "Di US involvement for Nigeria go attract real anti-US forces and turn our land to theatre of war".Dis na as e call on di govment to stop di military collabo wey dem get wit US and "find help wit di kontris wey we don tok".