United States President Donald Trump has said US forces carried out airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in north-western Nigeria, warning that more attacks would follow if the group continues violent activities.
Trump disclosed this on Thursday in a post on his Truth Social platform. According to him, the strikes targeted ISIS elements operating in the region.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander-in-Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria,” Trump wrote.
He added that the operation involved “numerous perfect strikes” carried out by the US military.
US Africa Command Confirms Strike in Sokoto
Shortly after Trump’s statement, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that it conducted airstrikes in Nigeria.
In a post on X, AFRICOM said the operation took place on December 25, 2025, in Sokoto State. It added that the strike was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Nigeria Says Operation Was Joint, Not Religious
Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, described the strike as a joint counter-terrorism operation.
Speaking to the BBC, Tuggar said the action had “nothing to do with any particular religion.” Instead, he said it targeted terrorists based on shared intelligence.
According to him, the operation had been planned for some time and relied on intelligence provided by Nigerian security agencies.
He added that future actions would depend on decisions taken by the leadership of both countries.
US Officials Thank Nigeria for Cooperation
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation.
In a separate post on X, he said he was “grateful for Nigerian government support and coordination,” adding a Christmas greeting.
The strikes come amid heightened security concerns in Nigeria following recent attacks, including a bombing in Maiduguri that killed several people.
Nigeria, US Maintain Security Cooperation
Nigeria’s foreign ministry later said the country remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States.
The ministry noted that such cooperation has resulted in “precision airstrikes on terrorist targets” in parts of northern Nigeria.
Although Trump has repeatedly claimed that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria, Nigerian officials and rights groups have disputed the assertion. They insist that insecurity affects people across faiths and regions.
President Bola Tinubu has also maintained that Nigeria remains committed to religious tolerance while tackling terrorism nationwide.
