US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had ordered strikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, describing them as “terrorist scum” responsible for attacks on Christian communities. The Nigerian government confirmed the operation was conducted as part of bilateral security cooperation.
The military action followed Trump’s warnings issued in October and November characterizing the situation as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide” against Nigerian Christians. The president had made clear that continued violence would provoke American military intervention, a commitment fulfilled through strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
In his statement, Trump emphasized that the Department of War executed precision strikes against militants who had been systematically killing innocent Christians. He highlighted American military capabilities and his administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward radical Islamic terrorism. The president praised the operation’s effectiveness and precision.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry released a statement confirming the strikes were part of ongoing security cooperation involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to address terrorism and violent extremism. Nigerian officials stressed that terrorist violence against any religious community, whether Christian or Muslim, contradicts the nation’s fundamental values.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude to Nigeria for enabling the operation and suggested that more strikes could follow. He noted that ISIS had learned a lesson on Christmas. The Pentagon released video footage showing missiles launching from warships. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while participating in the security cooperation, has emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that the country maintains its commitment to religious tolerance despite facing ongoing security challenges in various regions.