Trump says US military struck ISIS terrorists in Nigeria
Trump Orders Deadly US Strikes on ISIS Camps in Nigeria, Citing Protection of Christians
Former United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that he ordered a series of deadly US military strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists operating in Northwest Nigeria, accusing the group of persecuting and killing innocent Christians in the country.
Trump made the disclosure on Thursday through a post on social media, stating that he authorised a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS targets, describing the militants as “terrorist scum.” He later told Politico that he deliberately delayed the strikes so they would fall on Christmas Day.
“They were going to do it earlier, and I said, ‘nope, let’s give a Christmas present.’ … They didn’t think that was coming, but we hit them hard. Every camp got decimated,” Trump said.
US Africa Command Confirms Strikes in Sokoto State
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State, near Nigeria’s border with Niger, and were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
According to AFRICOM, its initial assessment indicates that multiple ISIS fighters were killed during the operation. A US official disclosed that Tomahawk missiles launched from a US Navy vessel struck two ISIS camps, while additional precision strikes were conducted using drones.
Nigeria Confirms Bauni Forest Was Targeted
Nigerian Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said on Friday that the strikes were carried out in the Bauni forest of the Tangaza area, targeting two major ISIS enclaves used for planning large-scale terrorist attacks in Nigeria.
Idris revealed that 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using Reaper drones, adding that the terrorist targets were successfully neutralised during the operation carried out between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. local time.
He noted that debris from expended munitions fell in parts of Jabo, Sokoto State, and Offa, Kwara State, near a hotel, but confirmed that no civilian casualties were recorded.
US, Nigeria Stress Joint Fight Against Terrorism
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a social media post that there was “more to come”, while expressing gratitude to the Nigerian government for its cooperation and support.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the strike and that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the operation.
“This is not about religion. It is about Nigerians, innocent civilians, and the wider region as a whole,” Tuggar said, stressing that both Muslims and Christians have been victims of terrorism in the Sahel and across Nigeria.
He added, “Whoever is prepared to work with us to fight terrorism, we’re ready, willing and able. We demonstrated this yesterday.”
Trump Emphasises Protection of Christians
Trump has repeatedly focused on the plight of Christians in Nigeria over recent months, warning in November that the US could take military action if attacks continued.
In another social media post, he declared: “I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
He added that under his leadership, the US would not allow radical Islamic terrorism to thrive, describing the strikes as flawless military operations.
Security Experts Urge Caution on Religious Framing
Security analysts cautioned that the strikes may have targeted Lakurawa, a lesser-known extremist group operating in northwestern Nigeria and recently designated a terrorist organisation by Nigerian authorities.
Experts noted that while religiously motivated attacks occur, much of the violence in the region is driven by a hybrid crime-terrorism threat, involving banditry, extremist ideology, and cross-border criminal networks.
African security analyst Oluwole Oyewale warned that framing the crisis purely as anti-Christian violence could deepen existing divisions in a country already facing political and religious fault lines.
Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Religious Freedom
On Christmas Eve, President Bola Tinubu issued a goodwill message to Christians in Nigeria and around the world, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting citizens of all faiths and ensuring religious freedom nationwide.
Nigeria continues to grapple with complex security challenges driven by terrorism, communal tensions, banditry, and disputes over land and resources, affecting both Christian and Muslim communities across the country.
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