By Emmanuel Kwada
Prominent Nigerian politician and former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode (popularly known as FFK) has strongly criticized reports suggesting that the United States based its December 25, 2025, airstrikes in Sokoto State on intelligence from an Onitsha-based screwdriver seller who allegedly used Google Maps.
In a fiery statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), FFK described believers of this narrative as having “low IQ, low self-esteem, and a low intelligence quotient,” urging them to “get sense.”
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) conducted the strikes on Christmas Day 2025, targeting what it described as ISIS (Islamic State) terrorist camps in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria.
The operation was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities, using precision-guided munitions, including Tomahawk missiles. US officials and President Donald Trump hailed the action as a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS-linked militants, claiming multiple terrorists were killed.
The controversy erupted following a New York Times investigation published around mid-January 2026, which highlighted the role of Emeka Umeagbalasi, a screwdriver and tools trader in Onitsha, Anambra State (southeast Nigeria).
The report suggested that Umeagbalasi, who runs a small NGO and has documented claims of widespread violence against Christians in Nigeria using sources like media reports, Google searches, and advocacy data, influenced the narrative around religious persecution that contributed to the US decision to act.
FFK dismissed the New York Times story as “fake news,” “disingenuous,” “infantile hogwash,” and “puerile and childish.”
He argued that no serious government—neither the US nor Nigeria—would base such a significant military operation on information from “an Onitsha-based screwdriver-seller who used Google map to source his information.”
He emphasized that the strikes resulted from collaboration between the US and Nigerian intelligence services and armed forces.
FFK referenced assurances from Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, stating he spoke with Tuggar just 10 minutes after the bombing. According to FFK, Tuggar confirmed that Nigeria provided the intelligence and that the action was a joint effort.
Official statements from both governments support the joint nature of the operation. Tuggar described it as a “collaborative effort” stemming from intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, planned over time, and approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. AFRICOM’s announcement explicitly noted coordination with Nigerian authorities.
The strikes targeted areas associated with Lakurawa, an armed group in the northwest with alleged ties to the Islamic State Sahel Province, amid ongoing security challenges involving bandits, insurgents, and extremist elements.
While US and Nigerian officials claimed successes against terrorists, some reports and local accounts have questioned the precision, impact, and whether key militant camps were occupied at the time, with suggestions of limited casualties and potential displacement of fighters.
FFK’s outburst reflects broader sensitivities in Nigeria around foreign military involvement, national sovereignty, and media portrayals of the country’s security issues.
The incident has sparked debates on intelligence reliability, the role of diaspora and local advocacy in shaping international perceptions, and the complexities of counterterrorism cooperation in the region.
As discussions continue, the episode underscores the tense yet evolving US-Nigeria security partnership in addressing threats from violent extremist organizations. No further joint strikes have been publicly confirmed as of January 19, 2026.
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