Misleading! US did not initiate the recent airstrikes in Kaduna

Claim: Facebook and X users claim that the US has launched an airstrike in Kaduna.

Verdict: Misleading! While an airstrike was recently launched against terrorists in Kaduna, this operation was initiated by the Nigerian Air Force, not the US.

Full Text

For days, a debate has been ongoing among Nigerians who fear that the US could strike at any time. Just as this lingered, claims of a United States-initiated airstrike in Kaduna began to make the rounds on Facebook.

The narrative, which originated from a verified Facebook user Dili Classic, quickly gained traction, accumulating 1,700 likes and 280 shares within 17 hours. While many believed this to have truly taken place, a few users expressed scepticism.

Apart from Facebook, some X users are also circulating this post, saying the US has started attacking Nigeria. Considering the sensitive nature of the claim, DUBAWA decided to step in with this fact check.

 Verification

Reports published by Premium Times and The Guardian on Nov. 10, 2025, confirmed a recent airstrike attack on terrorists’ bases in Kaduna. Contrary to the viral claim, this offensive was not initiated by the US. Instead, the operation was conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) across various locations, including parts of Kaduna, Borno, Kwara, Katsina, and Zamfara States.

According to Ehimen Ejodame, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, the mission was executed on November 9, under “Operation HADIN KAI and Operation FANSAN YAMMA.”

Ehimen described this as part of NAF’s counterterrorism and counter-banditry efforts against the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

“Similar operations were executed in Zamfara and Kaduna States, where terrorists on motorcycles attempting to flee were engaged and neutralised along the Birnin Gwari–Funtua axis,” he said.

The Punch and Daily Post newspapers also reported the development as seen here and here.

Conclusion

The Nigerian Air Force conducted the recent airstrike targeting terrorists in Kaduna state, not the US. The claim is misleading.