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On December 21, 2025, Nigerian authorities announced the release of the remaining 130 students and staff abducted from St Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, completing the rescue of all 230 victims. The November 21 attack involved over 300 pupils and staff, with 50 escaping initially and 100 freed earlier. The children are expected to reunite with families in Minna for Christmas amid ongoing security challenges in northern Nigeria.
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On December 25, 2025, the US launched a coordinated military strike against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria's Sokoto State, targeting insurgents accused of killing primarily Christians. The operation, involving Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from a Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea, was conducted with Nigerian government approval and intelligence support. Multiple militants were reportedly killed, marking a significant escalation in US involvement amid ongoing sectarian violence in Nigeria.
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On January 5, 2026, the US and Nigeria conducted joint missile strikes targeting ISIS militants in Sokoto State, Nigeria. The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities linked to ISIS and was approved by Nigerian authorities. No civilian casualties were reported. The strikes follow increased US involvement in Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts amid ongoing violence.
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Recent attacks in Nigeria, including a deadly Fulani terrorist raid in Otobi, have heightened tensions. President Trump indicated possible additional US strikes if violence against Christians persists, following a Christmas Day operation targeting Islamic State militants. Nigeria denies systematic persecution, but violence continues.
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U.S. forces conducted a rare drone strike in Sokoto, Nigeria, targeting Islamic State-linked camps after recent attacks and explosive discoveries. The operation follows local fears of unexploded ordnance and ongoing terrorist activity, including a mosque bombing and IED attacks, prompting heightened security measures across the region.
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Since early January 2026, multiple violent attacks by suspected bandits and terrorists in Nigeria's Niger, Borno, Kwara, and Plateau states have killed over 70 people and led to numerous abductions, including traditional rulers and schoolchildren. President Bola Tinubu has condemned the violence, ordering security forces to intensify operations to rescue victims and bring perpetrators to justice.