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Local Reactions: Sokoto State and Beyond

By Oluwa Extone

 

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Today, Friday, December 26, 2025, the focus in Nigeria is not on a "missing lunch" involving Donald Trump, but on the aftermath of a major military operation he authorized. While Trump remains in the United States, his actions have sparked intense reactions across Nigeria, particularly in the North.

​Here are the specific updates regarding the local and international reactions to the Christmas Day airstrikes:

​Local Reactions: Sokoto State and Beyond

​1. Relief Mixed with Caution in Sokoto

​Local leaders in Sokoto State, including representatives from the Sultan of Sokoto’s office and Governor Ahmed Aliyu, have expressed a cautious response.

  • ​The "Lakurawa" Threat: Security analysts believe the strikes targeted the Lakurawa group (ISIS-Sahel), which has been terrorizing border communities in Sokoto and Kebbi. While locals are relieved to see action against these insurgents, there is significant anxiety regarding collateral damage.

  • ​Historical Context: This fear is heightened by memories of an accidental Nigerian Air Force strike in Silame exactly one year ago (December 2024), which killed 13 civilians.

​2. Rejection of Religious Framing

​A major point of contention is Trump's framing of the strikes as a defense of "innocent Christians." * National Response: Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala and various security analysts have pushed back, noting that the Lakurawa and other groups target both Muslims and Christians.

  • ​Public Sentiment: Many Nigerians on social media and in the North argue that characterizing the conflict as purely religious is "dangerous" and could inflame sectarian tensions in a country already balanced between a Muslim North and Christian South.

​International Diplomatic Fallout

​1. China and the Senate Voice Concern

​The diplomatic tension has extended beyond Nigeria's borders.

  • ​China's Stance: Chinese diplomats have reportedly signaled support for Nigerian sovereignty, criticizing unilateral military threats and "interference" in domestic security matters.

  • ​Nigerian Senate: Members of the National Assembly have called for a briefing on the "structured security cooperation," questioning whether the U.S. "Department of War" (Trump's term for the Pentagon) has established a permanent footprint on Nigerian soil.

​2. The "Department of War" and Future Strikes

​U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reinforced Trump’s message, posting on X that there is "more to come." This has led to international speculation about whether this was a one-time Christmas operation or the start of a sustained U.S. air campaign in West Africa.

​Where is the President?

​To clarify the "lunch" aspect: President Trump spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. He was photographed pumping his fist at a Christmas Eve dinner, appearing in high spirits. There are no reports of him being in Nigeria, though his presence is felt heavily through these military maneuvers.

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