The United States and the Federal Government of Nigeria have offered differing accounts regarding the type, number, and launch platforms of weapons used in the recent airstrikes on alleged Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Sokoto State.

This has continued to raise questions about the technical details of the joint counterterrorism operation.

In a statement issued by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Federal Government said the operation involved the deployment of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions delivered via MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to the statement, the strikes targeted two ISIS enclaves in the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area and were conducted with presidential approval under Nigerian command and control structures.

The government further disclosed that the operation was launched from maritime platforms located in the Gulf of Guinea following extensive intelligence gathering and reconnaissance.

However, U.S. officials and political figures have presented a different technical account.

A U.S. Congressman, Riley Moore, disclosed in an interview with Fox News that the American military fired 12 Tomahawk cruise missiles during the operation.

The claim was reinforced by comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who described the strikes as “perfect,” as well as a post by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which confirmed U.S. involvement in air operations conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

The two accounts describe distinctly different weapons systems.

Findings revealed that MQ-9 Reaper drones are typically armed with air-to-ground missiles such as Hellfire missiles or precision-guided bombs, while Tomahawk missiles are long-range cruise missiles launched from naval vessels or submarines.

The use of Tomahawks, it was revealed, would indicate a predominantly naval strike, whereas MQ-9 operations are normally conducted from airbases rather than maritime platforms.

Both governments referenced maritime involvement, but the Nigerian statement’s emphasis on drone-based strikes contrasts with the U.S. claim of Tomahawk missile deployment.

Additionally, while Nigeria cited 16 munitions, the U.S. account put the number at 12 missiles, creating further uncertainty over the scale of the operation.

Neither side has provided detailed technical documentation or independent verification to reconcile the differences.

Security experts suggest the discrepancies may stem from simplified public messaging, partial disclosure, or the use of multiple platforms during the operation without unified communication.

The differing narratives underscore the need for clearer official clarification on the exact weapons, quantities, and launch platforms involved in the cross-border counterterrorism action.