EXCLUSIVE: Terrorists Relocate After US Airstrikes
There are growing indications that suspected terrorists operating in parts of northern Nigeria have begun relocating following missile strikes carried out by the United States on Thursday night.
Community leaders and security sources reported unusual movements by armed groups shortly after the Christmas Day attacks, with fighters allegedly dispersing in small numbers to avoid further strikes. President Donald Trump had announced that the US military conducted targeted airstrikes against Islamic State terrorists in northwestern Nigeria, an operation later confirmed by the Federal Government, which said it provided support.
According to official accounts, the strikes targeted locations believed to be terrorist hideouts. While no deaths were recorded, residents sustained injuries and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. In Sokoto State, a missile reportedly hit a farmland in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area, while additional strikes were said to have occurred in parts of Tangaza LGA, targeting suspected hideouts of the Lakurawa armed group. In Offa, Kwara State, some buildings were damaged.
Influx of Armed Groups into Benue
The Chairman of the Traditional Council in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State, Daniel Abomtse, raised concerns over what he described as an influx of armed herders into communities in Gwer West and neighbouring Agatu LGA. He said the movement appeared to have followed the US strikes in Sokoto.
“They have been running away from Sokoto to areas like Gwer West and Agatu with sophisticated arms,” Abomtse said, adding that the groups were grazing openly in his domain. While commending the US intervention, he called for expanded operations to other states affected by insecurity, including Benue, Kogi, Taraba, Niger and Plateau.
Efforts to confirm these claims through the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Bandits Dislodged in Sokoto
Residents and community leaders in Tangaza, Gudu and parts of Illela LGAs in Sokoto State said the airstrikes disrupted bandit operations and forced them to abandon known camps. Some armed groups were reportedly seen moving toward remote forest corridors, while others were believed to be attempting to cross into border communities to evade surveillance.
A community leader in Tangaza described the strike as a “strong signal” that compelled criminals to change routes and hideouts. Sokoto State officials said intelligence assessments were ongoing, with security agencies placed on high alert to prevent infiltration into safer communities. Border patrols and joint operations with federal forces have reportedly been intensified.
Security expert Bashar Umar confirmed that surveillance was being strengthened across flashpoints, particularly in border local governments, to curb further movement of armed groups.
US Resumes Surveillance in Sambisa
Meanwhile, a US congressman, Riley Moore, said the strikes helped prevent potential Christmas attacks in Nigeria. In a post on X, he described the operation as a coordinated effort with the Nigerian government to counter terrorism.
Separately, a Sahel-focused terrorism tracker disclosed that the US had resumed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations over the Sambisa Forest in Borno State. Flight-tracking data reportedly showed a Gulfstream V aircraft, commonly used for ISR missions, operating over the area.
Experts Warn of New Tactics
Security analysts cautioned that the displacement of terrorists could pose new risks. Kabiru Adamu, Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Consulting, said fleeing terrorists might attempt to blend into civilian communities or seek support from international terror networks.
He warned that propaganda, particularly online, could increase as groups attempt to portray the strikes as attacks on religious communities rather than on terrorists. Adamu urged security agencies to enhance surveillance and intelligence-sharing to prevent infiltration and counter misinformation.
Similarly, Professor Tar Usman of the Nigerian Defence Academy said the strikes would likely disrupt terrorist planning and create fear within their ranks, but cautioned that the intervention alone would not end terrorism.
“They may try to disappear and mix with the public or adopt new tactics,” he said, stressing the need for sustained vigilance.
A senior government source confirmed that Nigeria and the United States were collaborating closely to address killings, banditry and kidnapping, adding that security measures were being put in place to track and flush out fleeing terrorists, some of whom were believed to be moving toward Kogi and neighbouring states.
