President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had ordered strikes against ISIS positions in northwest Nigeria, describing the militants as “terrorist scum” responsible for attacks on Christian populations. The operation followed the president’s characterization of the violence as potential genocide.
The military action came after Trump characterized violence against Nigerian Christians in October and November as an “existential threat” approaching genocidal levels. The president had made explicit threats of military intervention if attacks persisted, warnings that materialized into strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
Trump detailed that the Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes” against militants who had been systematically killing innocent Christians. He emphasized that only the United States possesses such military capabilities and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to preventing radical Islamic terrorism from flourishing.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the military action as part of ongoing security cooperation between the two nations. This collaboration involves intelligence sharing and strategic planning to combat terrorism and violent extremism. Nigerian officials made clear that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities, whether Christian or Muslim.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed appreciation for Nigerian cooperation in enabling the strikes. He indicated that additional operations could follow, noting that ISIS had learned a lesson on Christmas. The Pentagon released video documentation showing missiles launching from warships. While Nigerian President Bola Ahmed has cooperated with the security operation, he has also emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that the country is committed to working with international partners while ensuring religious freedom.
