By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Jan. 4, 2026
A significant joint military operation on Christmas Day has delivered a substantial blow to terrorist infrastructure in Nigeria’s restive northwest, according to a detailed analysis by security expert Seyi Babaeko. The airstrikes, conducted by United States and Nigerian forces in Sokoto State, represent more than a tactical victory; they signal a potential strategic shift in the region’s counterterrorism landscape.
Babaeko, Managing Director of Absolute Security and Advance Protocol Ltd., provided an in-depth assessment to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), framing the operation as a critical disruption of the complex criminal ecosystems that have plagued the region.
The Target: Bauni Forest and the Sahelian Corridor
The operation focused on terrorist camps within the dense Bauni Forest, a known sanctuary. Crucially, these camps were not isolated outposts but nodes within a broader network. Babaeko emphasized they served as “key hubs moving criminals along Sahelian routes into Nigeria.” This highlights the transnational nature of the threat, where fighters, weapons, and illicit goods flow across porous borders from the wider Sahel region into Nigeria’s northwest, fueling banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency.
The expert outlined the operation’s tangible impacts, which moved beyond simple casualty counts:
- Destruction of Critical Infrastructure: This likely includes weapons depots, vehicle staging areas, and communication centers that are expensive and time-consuming to replace.
- Dismantling of Operational Nodes: The strikes degraded the network’s command-and-control architecture, severing links between leadership and ground cells.
- Disruption of Supply Chains & Communications: By targeting logistics, the operation choked off the flow of resources. Degraded communications “sharply reduced” the groups’ ability to coordinate complex attacks, forcing them into a reactive, defensive posture.
Strategic and Psychological Ramifications
The immediate tactical disarray among “previously mobile terrorist cells” has deeper implications. Babaeko noted that “entrenched terror networks are no longer beyond reach,” challenging a long-standing perception of invulnerability in remote forest hideouts. This has a dual psychological effect: it demoralizes militant groups while offering “cautious optimism” to local communities who have endured years of violence.
Furthermore, the operation triggered a forced migration of fighters, with some attempting to flee Sokoto for new hideouts. Notably, Babaeko revealed that “several attempting to relocate to parts of the South West were apprehended by local security outfits.” This points to a potential, yet fragile, ripple effect of improved inter-regional security coordination prompted by the strikes.
The Evolution of Nigeria-US Security Cooperation
This event underscores a deepening of Nigeria–United States counterterrorism partnership, moving beyond training and equipment. Babaeko pointed to enhanced collaboration in intelligence sharing, surveillance, and precision targeting. This fusion allows Nigeria to leverage advanced, long-range strike capabilities without overextending its own forces, which are engaged in multiple internal conflicts. Such partnerships effectively expand Nigeria’s operational reach and provide a force multiplier effect.
A Catalyst, Not a Solution
Babaeko offered a vital caveat, stressing that “airstrikes alone cannot guarantee lasting peace.” He described the operation as a “potential turning point” or catalyst, but its long-term success hinges on sustained, integrated follow-up actions. He explicitly called for:
- Sustained Military & Intelligence Pressure: To prevent regrouping and reconstitution.
- Stronger Border Controls: To sever the transnational lifelines of these networks.
- Enhanced Community Protection: To build local resilience and trust, denying militants shelter and recruits.
In conclusion, the Sokoto airstrikes represent a high-impact demonstration of combined capabilities. However, their true legacy will be determined by whether they ignite the “more decisive phase” in Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy that Babaeko advocates for. The disrupted networks will seek to adapt; the strategic question for 2026 is whether Nigerian and allied forces can maintain the initiative and translate this tactical disruption into enduring security.
(Source: NAN News)
Edited by Benson Ezugwu / Kamal Tayo Oropo
