The Nigeria Police Force has acknowledged its role in intelligence cooperation ahead of recent U.S. airstrikes on terrorist targets in Sokoto State but has declined to disclose operational details.
Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, who made the comments on Tuesday during an appearance on television, said the police were deeply involved in intelligence gathering and coordination with other security agencies but would not comment publicly on the strikes.
“We are deeply involved in intelligence gathering and sharing,” he said. “We know certain details about the strikes, but we will not discuss them. This operation is under the purview of the Defence authorities’.
He added that while there is cooperation among security agencies, operational matters remain the responsibility of the military.
The statement follows confirmation that the United States conducted airstrikes against terrorist positions in Sokoto on December 25, 2025. The U.S. Department of Defense said the strikes killed multiple ISIS operatives and were carried out at the request of the Nigerian government.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation on his social media platform, describing the airstrikes as “decisive” and warning terrorist groups against further attacks. He also suggested that additional action could follow if violence against Christians continued.
The Federal Government later confirmed that the strikes were jointly planned and approved by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Boxing Day, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the operation reflected the ongoing security partnership with the United States.
“This was a joint operation, coordinated with our partners, and approved by the President”, Tuggar said. He emphasised that the strikes were not directed at any religious group. “Nigeria is a multi-religious country. Our focus is fighting terrorism and protecting the lives and property of all citizens, regardless of faith”.
The airstrikes occurred amid heightened diplomatic tensions following President Trump’s earlier claims that Christians in Nigeria faced persecution, which the US had labelled a “Country of Particular Concern”.
The Federal Government rejected these claims, stressing that insecurity affects all communities equally.
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