The Presidency has clarified that the recent airstrike in Sokoto State, targeting terrorists, was a joint operation between Nigeria and the United States and was not aimed at any ethnic or religious group.
The Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, made the statement on his official X handle, stressing that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism.
“For clarity, I spoke with Sky News on this: yesterday’s strike was a joint Nigeria–U.S. operation, which was built on weeks of collaboration, intelligence sharing, and surveillance,” Bwala said.
He added that Nigeria played a central role in the operation, particularly in providing intelligence and coordinating efforts before and after the strike.
“Nigeria played a key intelligence role, with coordination before and after the strike,” he explained.
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Bwala emphasised that the operation should not be interpreted as targeting any ethnic or religious community.
“This is part of sustained efforts to end terrorism and should not be seen as ethnic or religious targeting,” he said.
He further stressed that the government’s focus remains solely on criminal elements.
“The government is only interested in targeting criminals,” Bwala added.
The Presidency’s clarification comes amid concerns over the implications of military operations on local communities, with authorities reassuring citizens that counterterrorism measures are carefully planned to avoid civilian harm.
