US Congress probes Trump’s 2025 airstrikes in Nigeria

Members of the United States Congress have formally requested detailed explanations from the Pentagon on the US airstrikes conducted in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, as well as the broader American military posture in the country.

The United States President, Donald Trump, had announced on December 25 that US forces conducted strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria’s North-West region.

The Federal Government later stated that the operation, carried out in Sokoto State, was authorised and did not violate the country’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.

However, in a March 9, 2026 letter addressed to US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, and obtained by our correspondent on Saturday, lawmakers led by a Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Sara Jacobs, and Congressman Jason Crow demanded clarification on the operation.

The letter was also copied to US Africa Command Chief, Dagvin Anderson, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

The lawmakers sought details on the Sokoto State strikes, including their legal basis, coordination with Nigerian authorities, intelligence sharing, and reports suggesting possible civilian casualties and operational errors.

The correspondence referenced public statements from the US administration describing the December 2025 operation as “multiple flawless strikes” against “ISIS terrorist scum” in northwest Nigeria targeting militants for “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”

However, the lawmakers questioned the basis of those claims, writing that “Nigerian and international experts have noted that there is currently no credible public evidence of a sustained or operational ISIS presence in Sokoto State.”

The letter also cited reports alleging that “at least four of 16 missiles failed to detonate as intended or missed their intended targets by hundreds of miles,” with some reportedly striking farmland and residential buildings.

The lawmakers further referenced accounts of unexploded munitions being found in civilian areas with no known links to militant activity.

The letter also noted reports that the US was deploying approximately 200 troops to Nigeria to train local forces, alongside a smaller existing US military presence that assists with intelligence gathering and targeting support for Nigerian operations.

The congressional inquiry included 11 specific questions directed to the Department of Defence.

In the letter, the lawmakers asked how many strikes the US has conducted in Nigeria since December 25, 2025.

They requested details on intended targets and assessments of who was killed or injured in each incident.

They also inquired about the coordination that occurred with the Nigerian government and military before, during, and after the strikes, including intelligence sharing, targeting decisions, and public communications.

A key focus of the letter was the legal authority under which the strikes were conducted.

The lawmakers asked, “Under what legal authority did the United States undertake these strikes?” and questioned why the operations were not reported to Congress under Section 4(a)(1) of the 1973 War Powers Resolution.

The letter also sought clarification on reports of missile failures and targeting errors. It specifically asked for the Pentagon’s assessment of “the reported failure of at least four Tomahawk missiles to hit their intended targets,” including strikes near Tambuwal and Ofa in Kwara State, and whether those incidents were due to “technical malfunction, targeting error, or other causes.”

Concerns about civilian harm were also raised, with the lawmakers requesting information on “civilian casualties or injuries resulting from US strikes,” particularly in areas near Jabo and Ofa, and asked how US Africa Command has engaged with affected communities.

The committee also requested a breakdown of the financial cost of the December 2025 operation and any subsequent strikes, including munitions, personnel, surveillance, and intelligence support.

“What is the Department’s current estimate of the total financial cost of the December 25th airstrikes in Nigeria, and any other subsequent US strikes in Nigeria since then, including the munitions expended, platform and personnel costs, intelligence and surveillance support, and post-strike assessments?” they asked.

Additional questions addressed the impact of the strikes on regional security, the metrics used to evaluate their effectiveness, and the broader US strategy for addressing armed violence in Nigeria.

The lawmakers also sought clarity on the reported troop deployment, asking, “What are the functions and objectives of the US military deployment to Nigeria, reported on February 3?” and why it would not trigger reporting requirements under the War Powers Resolution.

They also requested information on future operations, asking, “What is the Department’s current posture and plan for any future US strikes, or US-enabled strikes, in Nigeria?”

The lawmakers requested a response from the Department of Defence by March 20, 2026.

Our correspondent could not ascertain whether the Pentagon has responded, as a thorough search for any official reply did not yield any results.