The Nigerian military has appealed to residents of affected communities in Sokoto State to voluntarily hand over any explosives or suspicious materials looted from recent airstrike sites, warning that such items pose serious safety risks.

The appeal comes days after U.S.-backed airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, December 25, and into the early hours of December 26, 2025, targeted militant camps linked to the Islamic State in the Bauni Forest area of the state.

The precision strikes, conducted by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in coordination with Nigerian authorities, were authorised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The operation reportedly involved GPS-guided munitions and unmanned aerial platforms aimed at disrupting extremist networks operating along the Sahel corridor.

In a statement, the Defence Headquarters described the operation as intelligence-led and said it successfully neutralised identified threats while prioritising civilian protection. It added that post-strike assessments were still ongoing and that further details would be released upon completion.

However, military authorities expressed concern over reports that residents may have looted unexploded ordnance and debris from the strike locations. They warned that such materials could detonate accidentally, endangering lives and property.

Residents have been urged to immediately surrender any recovered explosives or report the location of suspicious objects to nearby security agencies to support safe cleanup operations and comprehensive damage assessments.

The Sokoto State Government earlier confirmed the airstrikes, stating that the joint operation with U.S. forces was part of broader efforts to safeguard communities from extremist threats. Authorities have continued to reassure residents that the strikes were carefully executed with civilian safety as a top priority.

Community leaders and traditional rulers have also called for calm, urging residents to cooperate fully with security agencies to ensure public safety as the affected areas recover from the military action.