Members of the United States Congress have asked the Pentagon to provide a detailed account of American air operations carried out in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, and to explain the broader U.S. military footprint in the country.

The strikes were publicly announced that day by then U.S. President Donald Trump, who said American forces had targeted fighters linked to the Islamic State in Nigeria’s North-West. Nigeria’s Federal Government later said the action in Sokoto State was authorised and did not breach national sovereignty.

In a March 9, 2026 letter, a group of lawmakers led by Sara Jacobs and Jason Crow requested clarifications from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Copies were also sent to Dagvin Anderson of United States Africa Command and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The correspondence questions the legal justification for the strikes, the level of coordination with Nigerian authorities, and the accuracy of public claims made about the targets. Lawmakers noted that some Nigerian and international analysts have said there is no publicly verifiable evidence of an established ISIS presence in Sokoto State.

They also cited reports alleging that several missiles may have malfunctioned or veered off course, with some said to have landed in farmland and residential locations, and that unexploded ordnance was later discovered in civilian areas.

Beyond the December operation, the lawmakers asked how many additional strikes the U.S. has conducted in Nigeria since then, who the intended targets were, and what assessments were made about casualties or damage.

A central concern in the letter is whether the action complied with the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which requires the executive branch to notify Congress when U.S. forces are introduced into hostilities. The lawmakers asked why the strikes and subsequent troop activities were not formally reported under those provisions.

The inquiry also references reports that roughly 200 American troops were to be deployed to Nigeria for training roles, in addition to a smaller existing presence involved in intelligence and operational support. The Pentagon was asked to explain the purpose of this deployment and whether it should have triggered congressional notification.

Financial questions were included as well, with requests for an estimate of the total cost of the strikes, including weapons used, surveillance support, personnel, and post-strike assessments.

The lawmakers further sought information on how the Pentagon evaluates the effectiveness of such operations, the measures taken to prevent civilian harm, and any engagement with communities reportedly affected by the strikes, including areas near Jabo and Ofa.

They requested a formal response from the Department of Defense by March 20, 2026. As of the time of reporting, there has been no public confirmation that a reply has been issued.