Military airstrikes conducted by the United States in December 2025 reportedly killed at least 155 fighters of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Sokoto State, according to a report by The New Humanitarian.
The publication said the operation, carried out in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, also left about 200 Lakurawa fighters missing in the week that followed the strikes.
According to the report, the attacks involved Tomahawk missiles launched from a US Navy destroyer stationed in the Gulf of Guinea.
The missiles reportedly targeted three local government areas in Sokoto State – Isa, Tangaza and Tambuwal although only Tangaza is widely recognised as a core Lakurawa stronghold.
Tambuwal is not commonly associated with organised armed violence, while Isa is known as a bandit enclave largely controlled by notorious kingpin Bello Turji. Details surrounding the strike in Isa remain unclear, but Turji is believed to have survived the attack.
A Lakurawa camp in Tangaza reportedly suffered the heaviest losses. The New Humanitarian stated that two missiles hit the camp in quick succession.
The first strike allegedly killed about 30 fighters. As survivors gathered to assess the damage and assist the wounded, a second missile struck the same location, killing many of those present.
In total, an estimated 155 Lakurawa fighters were killed, including 19 who initially survived the blast but later died from their injuries.
A senior Lakurawa commander, Dando Sibu, was reported to have escaped death after leaving the area less than five minutes before the second missile strike.
The report further revealed that nearly half of the group’s cattle a major source of revenue were lost during the operation.
Despite the heavy losses, Lakurawa fighters reportedly launched a retaliatory attack on Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State on December 31. The raid, which lasted several hours, left at least 21 civilians dead, with nine reportedly beheaded.
The report noted that the US strikes focused solely on Lakurawa positions and did not target other jihadist groups operating in the region, including Boko Haram and the al-Qaeda-linked Ansaru.
