Members of the US Congress have formally pressed the Pentagon for a detailed account of American airstrikes carried out in Nigeria on 25 December 2025, widening scrutiny of Washington’s expanding military footprint in the region.
In a letter dated 9 March and addressed to defence secretary Pete Hegseth, lawmakers led by Sara Jacobs and Jason Crow demanded clarity on the strikes announced by President Donald Trump, who said US forces had targeted Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria’s north-west.
The Nigerian government subsequently confirmed the operation in Sokoto State, describing it as authorised and consistent with national sovereignty. But the congressional letter raises a series of questions about how the strikes were conducted, their legal justification and their broader implications.
Copied to the secretary of state Marco Rubio and the head of US Africa Command, Dagvin Anderson, the correspondence seeks detailed information on targeting decisions, intelligence sharing with Nigerian authorities and reports of civilian harm.
Lawmakers also challenged the administration’s public characterisation of the operation as “multiple flawless strikes” against Islamic State operatives, noting that experts have found little credible evidence of a sustained ISIS presence in Sokoto state.
Particular concern centred on reports of operational failures. The letter cited claims that at least four missiles failed to detonate or missed their intended targets, with some allegedly striking farmland and residential areas. It also referenced accounts of unexploded ordnance discovered in civilian communities with no apparent militant links.
The inquiry forms part of a broader examination of US military engagement in Nigeria, including reports that roughly 200 American troops may be deployed to train local forces, alongside an existing presence focused on intelligence and targeting support.
Among 11 questions put to the Department of Defense, lawmakers asked how many strikes have been conducted since December 2025, who was killed or injured, and how success is being measured. They also pressed for a breakdown of the financial cost of the operation, including munitions, personnel and surveillance.
A central issue is the legal authority underpinning the strikes. The letter questions why the operation was not reported to Congress under the War Powers Resolution, and seeks clarity on the framework guiding US military action in Nigeria.
Further queries addressed the extent of coordination with Abuja, the handling of civilian casualty reports, and the Pentagon’s plans for any future strikes or expanded operations.
The lawmakers set a 20 March deadline for a response. It remains unclear whether the Pentagon has formally replied, with no public record of an official response as of the time of reporting.
