CRIME
Merry Christmas!: President Trump Announces “Powerful and Deadly Strike” on Islamic State Targets in North-West Nigeria as US–Nigeria Joint Military Operation Unfolds
President Donald Trump has announced that the United States has carried out what he described as a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State (IS) targets in north-western Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in direct US military involvement against terrorist groups operating in the country.
In a statement shared late Thursday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the US military had launched decisive action against the extremist group, which he branded as “terrorist scum.”
He accused IS of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” and declared that under his leadership, the United States would not tolerate the continued spread of extremist violence.
According to the US president, American forces “executed numerous perfect strikes” against the group. The US Africa Command (Africom) later confirmed that the air strikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and took place in Sokoto State in the country’s North-West.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, confirmed the operation, describing it as a “joint operation” aimed squarely at “terrorists.”
He stressed that the action “has nothing to do with a particular religion,” pushing back against suggestions that the strikes were motivated by religious considerations.
Tuggar also indicated that further military action could not be ruled out, explaining that any additional strikes would depend on “decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries.”
The development follows Trump’s directive in November ordering the US military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria to counter Islamist militant groups. At the time, the US president did not specify which incidents he was responding to, though claims of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria have gained traction in recent months among some right-wing groups in the United States.
Reacting to the latest operation, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s cooperation, saying he was “grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.” He added a seasonal note, posting “Merry Christmas!” on X.
The US Department of Defense later released an unclassified short video that appeared to show a missile launch from a US military vessel, though no further operational details were provided.
On Friday morning, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming the country’s commitment to international security partnerships. It said Nigerian authorities “remain engaged in structured security co-operation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorist and violent extremism.” The ministry added that this collaboration “has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West.”
Despite Trump’s repeated emphasis on the protection of Christians, groups that monitor violence in Nigeria say there is no evidence that Christians are being killed at a higher rate than Muslims in the country, which is roughly evenly split between followers of both religions.
Daniel Bwala, an adviser to President Bola Tinubu, previously told the BBC that any military action against jihadist groups should be carried out jointly. While noting Nigeria’s status as a “sovereign” nation, he said the country would welcome US support in confronting Islamist insurgents. He also emphasized that extremist groups have killed people “from all faiths, or none,” and were not targeting a single religious community.
President Tinubu has consistently maintained that Nigeria is a religiously tolerant nation, insisting that the country’s security challenges affect citizens “across faiths and regions.”
Earlier, Trump had designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he called an “existential threat” to the country’s Christian population. He claimed that “thousands” had been killed, though no evidence was provided to support the assertion. The designation is used by the US State Department for countries considered to be “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom” and can lead to sanctions.
Following that announcement, President Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s willingness to work with the United States and the wider international community to protect communities of all faiths.
For more than a decade, jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have carried out violent campaigns in north-eastern Nigeria, killing thousands of people. However, data from ACLED, a global political violence monitoring group, indicates that most of those killed have been Muslims.
In central Nigeria, long-running conflicts between mostly Muslim herders and largely Christian farming communities over land, water, and grazing routes have also resulted in frequent deadly clashes. Human rights organizations say atrocities have been committed by all sides and that there is no evidence Christians have been disproportionately targeted.
The Nigeria operation comes just days after the United States announced it had carried out a “massive strike” against IS targets in Syria.
According to US Central Command (Centcom), fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery struck more than 70 targets across central Syria, with ai
rcraft from Jordan also taking part.