…FG Confirms Attack
The United States has launched airstrikes in Nigeria targeting ISIS militants, President Donald Trump announced this on Christmas night, describing the operation as decisive and issuing a stern warning that further attacks would follow if violence against Christians continues.
In a statement posted on his Truth platform, President Trump said the strikes were carried out in response to the killing of Christians by terrorist elements operating in parts of Nigeria.
He declared that the United States would not tolerate religiously motivated violence or the expansion of extremist groups under his leadership.
Trump stated “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,” adding “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
Symfoninews reports that President Trump further emphasized that the operation was part of a broader commitment to confront what he described as Radical Islamic Terrorism wherever it threatens innocent lives.
According to him, the strikes were carefully executed military actions aimed at neutralizing ISIS elements accused of orchestrating deadly attacks on Christian communities.
Trump said “Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper”. “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.”
While U.S. military authorities have not yet released operational details regarding the locations or extent of the strikes, the announcement has immediately drawn global attention, particularly in Nigeria, where years of insurgency by extremist groups known as Boko Haram have resulted in thousands of deaths of Nigerian Christians.
Nigeria has long battled multiple security threats, including ISIS-affiliated factions and other armed groups operating mainly in the northeast and parts of the north-central region.
Attacks on civilian populations, religious institutions, and security forces have remained a major challenge for the country’s authorities.
…FG Confirms US Air Strikes In Sokoto
The Federal Government has confirmed ongoing security and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States following recent airstrikes that hit terrorist targets in parts of North West Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the airstrikes were carried out as part of structured counter-terrorism collaboration with international partners.
The ministry said “This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,”.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, noted that Nigerian authorities remain actively engaged in “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” to address the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
According to the ministry, the collaboration includes intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and other forms of support conducted in line with international law, mutual respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and shared security commitments.
The statement said “Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity,”
It added that terrorist violence, “whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
The statement followed comments by United States President Donald Trump, who disclosed on Thursday that U.S. forces had carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists operating in Northwestern Nigeria.
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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added, “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
Trump further warned that additional military action would follow if attacks on Christians continued. “If they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was”
In a separate social media post, United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the operation was carried out with the cooperation of the Nigerian government.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” Hegseth wrote, adding that the Department of War was “always ready.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria would continue to work with its partners through established diplomatic and security channels to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats.
The airstrikes came a day after a bomb attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, killed five people and injured dozens in what authorities suspect was a suicide bombing, underscoring the ongoing security challenges in parts of the country.
The ministry assured that the Federal Government would keep the public informed through appropriate official channels as developments unfold.