Army troops repelled Bandits in Soro Daya, Kankia LGA, Katsina State, rescuing a teenage girl with a gunshot wound.

At approximately 7 pm on Christmas Eve, two groups of ISWAP fighters—first in trucks and later reinforcements on motorcycles and by foot—invaded Garkida town in Gombi LGA, chanting “Allahu Akbar” as they moved from one Christian premise to another. They asked Christians to convert “or face their wrath,” selectively targeted Christian properties (church buildings, homes, vehicles, pharmaceutical shops, a general hospital, a new shopping mall and a construction company‘s equipment), looted medical supplies and food meant for holiday distributions, and set buildings ablaze. Muslim houses and properties were deliberately bypassed. At least six civilians were killed on the night of the attack, one of whom was a female victim shot by a stray bullet. Gun battles erupted between the fighters and soldiers of the 232 Battalion (who were deployed in the town) and local vigilantes. Residents fled to the top of the mountain range and endured harsh harmattan conditions through the night. Airstrikes from the Nigerian Air Force helped beat back the fighters, but not before they looted and set fire to property. At least 11 residents were abducted; some were later executed, with ISWAP releasing a video showing the killing of five of the abducted residents. The fighters withdrew around 1 am.

The Area Commander of the Nigerian Police Force, ACP Aminu Umar, and another police officer were killed in an ambush by about 300 terrorists on motorcycles. The attack occurred while police forces were on a clearance operation against recalcitrant Bandits in Zakka forest, Safana LGA, Katsina State.

Armed Bandits in large numbers attacked the outskirts of Adabka village in Bukkuyum LGA, Zamfara State, abducting several residents. Reports indicate four were rescued, while nine security operatives went missing.