President Donald J. Trump announced late Thursday that U.S. forces conducted a series of “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria, targeting groups he accused of systematically killing Christians.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump declared: “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!”
He added that he had previously warned the terrorists of severe consequences if the violence continued, stating, “there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.” Trump praised the operation as involving “numerous perfect strikes” and concluded with a holiday message: “May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strikes targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State, describing them as conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Initial assessments indicate multiple militants were killed, with no civilian casualties reported.
The operation follows months of escalating rhetoric from Trump, who framed attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria as a Genocide. Defense officials described the strikes as precision operations, reportedly involving cruise missiles launched from a U.S. Navy vessel in the region.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on Friday confirming the action as part of ongoing bilateral security cooperation with the United States. The statement, signed by spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, emphasized that the collaboration involved intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, leading to “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West.”
The ministry stressed that all counter-terrorism efforts prioritize protecting civilian lives and upholding the rights of citizens “irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” adding that terrorist violence remains “an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
The strikes mark a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in Nigeria’s fight against extremism, amid broader regional concerns over ISIS-affiliated groups operating in West Africa.
No independent verification of casualty figures or specific targets was immediately available, and further details from both governments are expected.
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