U.S. airstrikes Thursday hit Islamic State militants in Sokoto, Nigeria, as part of a US-Nigeria intelligence partnership, sparking debate over local security.
US Airstrikes in Sokoto
The United States carried out airstrikes on Thursday that targeted Islamic State group militants in the northwestern Nigerian state of Sokoto. President Donald Trump posted on social media that the strikes were against “powerful and deadly” IS gunmen who were “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
Islamic State Groups in the Region
At least two IS-affiliated groups operate in Nigeria: the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast and the Islamic State Sahel Province, locally known as Lakurawa, which is prominent in the northwest. While officials did not specify which group was hit, security analysts say the strikes were likely aimed at members of Lakurawa, which has become more lethal in border states such as Sokoto and Kebbi over the past year.
Lakurawa’s presence dates back to 2017 when it was invited by traditional authorities in Sokoto to protect communities from bandit groups. Analysts note that the militants overstayed their welcome, clashing with community leaders and enforcing a harsh interpretation of Sharia law that alienated much of the rural population. James Barnett of the Hudson Institute said the group “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 added that “Communities now openly say that Lakurawa are more oppressive and dangerous than the bandits they claim to protect them from.”
Lakurawa controls territories in Sokoto and Kebbi states 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 U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project notes that ISSP has maintained a low profile, operating covertly along the Niger-Nigeria border and expanding toward the Beninese border.
Governance and Security Challenges
Security experts argue that Nigeria’s crisis is rooted more in governance than in military capacity. The lack of state presence in conflict hot spots, combined with high poverty, hunger and unemployment, makes recruitment easy for non-state actors. Nigeria’s Minister of Defense Christopher Musa stated 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 further explained that “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.”
Strategic Significance of U.S. Support
The strikes are viewed by analysts as crucial support for Nigeria’s overstretched military, which faces multiple crises across the country. In Sokoto, the Nigerian army conducts airstrikes against militant hideouts and has launched mass recruitment drives. However, analysts say such operations are rarely sustained; militants move on motorcycles through vast forests that link several northern states and often use hostages-including schoolchildren-as cover, complicating airstrikes.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. airstrikes hit Islamic State militants in Sokoto on Thursday, part of a US-Nigeria intelligence partnership.
- The strikes likely targeted the Islamic State Sahel Province (Lakurawa), a group active since 2017 and known for extreme violence.
- Nigeria’s security crisis is driven largely by governance gaps, with the military responsible for only 30% of the solution.
These events underscore the complexity of fighting insurgency in Nigeria, where foreign military assistance intersects with deep-rooted governance challenges.
