President Donald Trump said the United States carried out a «powerful and deadly» strike against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria. He described the group as terrorists and accused it of killing civilians.
Trump said the US military conducted what he called precise and successful strikes. US Africa Command later confirmed that the operation took place on Thursday in Sokoto state and was carried out in coordination with Nigerian forces.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the action was a joint operation aimed at terrorists and had no connection to any religion. Trump wrote on Truth Social that under his leadership the US would not allow what he described as radical Islamic terrorism to thrive.
Debate over religion and security
In November, Trump instructed the US military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria to counter Islamist militant groups. His comments come amid claims circulating in some US political circles that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted, though he did not specify particular incidents.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation in a post on X, adding a Christmas greeting. The Pentagon later released an unclassified video appearing to show a missile launch from a military vessel.
The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 25, 2025
The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…
Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.
Merry Christmas! https://t.co/k5Q3Qd4ClE
On Friday, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the country remained engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to address terrorism and violent extremism. It said this cooperation had resulted in precision air strikes against terrorist targets in the north-west.
Violence affects communities across faiths
Groups that monitor violence say there is no evidence that Christians are being killed at higher rates than Muslims in Nigeria, which has a roughly even split between the two faiths. An adviser to President Bola Tinubu previously said any foreign military action should be conducted jointly, noting Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Tinubu has said militant groups have killed people of all faiths and that insecurity affects communities across religions and regions. He has also stressed the country’s commitment to religious tolerance.
Trump earlier designated Nigeria a «Country of Particular Concern,» citing what he called an existential threat to Christians, though he did not provide evidence. The designation allows for potential US sanctions related to violations of religious freedom. Tinubu responded by saying Nigeria would continue working with the US and international partners to protect all communities.
Militant groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have carried out attacks in Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people. Data from violence monitoring groups shows most victims have been Muslims. Central Nigeria has also seen deadly clashes between herders and farming communities, driven largely by disputes over land and water, with violence reported on all sides.
Last week, the US said it had also carried out a large-scale strike against Islamic State targets in Syria, with US and allied aircraft hitting dozens of locations.
Kursiv also reports that at least five people were killed in a bomb explosion inside a crowded mosque in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state on December 25.
