Nigerian army chief Shaibu visits Sokoto, meets Sultan after US fired missiles

Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Friday visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, as part of what the Army claims is a renewed push to strengthen civil–military relations in the country.

The meeting, held at the Sultan’s Palace in Sokoto, comes at a time of heightened insecurity across multiple regions, with communities increasingly demanding accountability and improved coordination from security agencies.

Shaibu, during the visit, said the Nigerian Army was prioritising collaboration with traditional institutions, insisting that community involvement remained key to tackling the country’s security challenges.

He said the military was committed to working with leaders at every level to promote peace, stability and national unity.

The Sultan praised the Army for its service and sacrifices, while urging continued respect for human rights and stronger engagement with civilians.

He also prayed for the success of military operations and the protection of personnel across conflict zones.

The visit follows recent events of the United States’ Christmas Day airstrike targeting Islamic State militants in the country’s northwest.

About a month earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly signalled the possibility of direct American military intervention in Nigeria if the government failed to act decisively against Islamist militants operating in the region.

On Thursday, Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that U.S. forces had carried out an airstrike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria “at the request of Nigeria’s government,” claiming the group had been “targeting Christians in the region.”

Local media reported loud explosions in Jabo community on Christmas Day evening.

According to the official, the United States carried out the operation partly because the location was “too remote for Nigerian forces to reach.”

“It’s partially symbolic,” the official said, adding that the strike was also intended as deterrence and to signal that the Trump administration was “prepared to use the military.”