President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States launched what he described as a “powerful and deadly” military strike against Islamic State forces operating in Nigeria.
In a Christmas Day post on his social media platform, Trump announced the action but did not disclose the specific locations targeted or the scale of damage inflicted. His statement came after weeks of public pressure on Nigeria’s government over extremist violence and religious persecution claims.
A U.S. Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because details had not been formally released, confirmed that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities and had received Abuja’s approval.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also acknowledged the cooperation, saying it involved intelligence sharing and strategic coordination conducted in line with international law and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Trump said the strikes targeted Islamic State militants he accused of “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” However, Nigerian officials and independent security analysts have repeatedly stressed that extremist violence in the country affects both Christians and Muslims.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that terrorism “whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities” runs counter to Nigeria’s values and poses a threat to regional and global security.
Nigeria is battling multiple armed groups, including at least two factions linked to the Islamic State. These include the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram active mainly in the northeast, and the lesser-known Lakurawa group, which has emerged as a serious threat in parts of the northwest.
Security analysts suggest the U.S. strikes may have focused on Lakurawa, which has grown increasingly violent over the past year, launching attacks on remote communities and security personnel, particularly in states such as Sokoto and Kebbi.
Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher with Good Governance Africa, said Lakurawa has established control over territories in parts of the northwest. He linked the group’s expansion to weak state presence and limited security coverage in affected areas.
Nigeria’s population of more than 220 million is almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. While some attacks are clearly religiously motivated, analysts caution that the country’s insecurity cannot be reduced to faith alone.
Violence across Nigeria stems from a mix of factors, including extremist insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, communal disputes, banditry, separatist agitation, and ethnic tensions. Boko Haram and its splinter groups have also attacked Muslims they consider insufficiently observant.
Nigeria’s government has previously pushed back against claims that Christians are uniquely targeted, arguing that citizens of different faiths have suffered at the hands of extremist groups.
Trump last month directed the Pentagon to explore possible military options related to Nigeria’s security situation. Around the same time, the U.S. State Department announced visa restrictions against Nigerians and their family members accused of involvement in attacks on Christians.
Washington also recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerian officials and civil society groups.
Despite a reduced U.S. military footprint across Africa, Trump maintained that American forces remain capable of swift action. He said U.S. defense officials had carried out “numerous perfect strikes” and insisted the United States would not allow “radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.”
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced that message in a post on X, saying American forces were “always ready” and praising the Nigerian government for its cooperation
The U.S. airstrikes mark a significant moment in Nigeria–U.S. security relations, highlighting both cooperation and tension. While the operation underscores Washington’s willingness to act against ISIS targets, it also reflects the complexity of Nigeria’s security crisis—one driven by multiple actors and causes beyond religion alone. How this intervention shapes future counterterrorism efforts, diplomatic ties, and on-the-ground realities in Nigeria remains to be seen.
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