President Donald Trump announced on Christmas evening that the United States Military had conducted airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria.
The strikes targeted ISIS positions in Sokoto State, marking the first major US military intervention in Nigeria under Trump’s administration.
Multiple terrorists were killed in what Trump described as “powerful and deadly” attacks on groups he accused of targeting Christians.
US Military Executes Christmas Night Operation
Writing on Truth Social late Thursday, Trump said he directed strikes against what he called “ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria.”
The president claimed the militants had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries.”
US Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed strikes were conducted in Sokoto State, killing multiple ISIS terrorists. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned on social media that more operations could follow.
“The Department of War is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight on Christmas,” Hegseth wrote. “More to come.”
“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…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/AUUmTMABSs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 26, 2025
Nigerian Government Confirms Cooperation
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement early Friday confirming cooperation with Washington.
The ministry said Nigerian authorities were “engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.”
“This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” the statement added.
Daniel Bwala, special adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, told CNN that “the US and Nigeria are on the same page in the fight against terrorism.”
Background: Trump’s Warnings Over Christian Persecution
The strikes followed weeks of escalating rhetoric from Trump about alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
In late November, Trump ordered the Pentagon to begin planning potential military action in Nigeria.
The US recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Key developments leading to the strikes:
- Trump threatened to go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if Christian killings continued
- US began intelligence-gathering flights over Nigeria in late November
- More than 300 students were kidnapped from a Catholic school in northern Nigeria (later freed on 22 December)
- Trump administration implemented visa restrictions targeting those involved in violence against Christians
Complex Security Situation Disputed
Nigeria’s population of approximately 220 million is split almost evenly between Christians and Muslims.
The Nigerian government has consistently stated that armed groups target both Muslim and Christian communities. Officials argue US claims of Christian persecution don’t represent the complex security situation.
Analysts point to multiple factors driving violence:
- Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attacks
- Long-standing clashes between mostly Christian farmers and largely Muslim herders over land
- Ethnic rivalries and criminality
- Resource competition in various regions
Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, reporting from Lagos, noted that Sokoto State would be “the last place many Nigerians would think” Christian persecution was happening. The vast majority of Sokoto’s population is Muslim.
Location and Military Details
Sokoto State borders Niger to the north in Nigeria’s northwestern region.
US Africa Command initially posted that strikes were conducted “at the request of Nigerian authorities” but later deleted this statement before the Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed cooperation.
Pentagon footage showed projectiles launched from warships. A US defence official told Reuters the strikes targeted multiple militants at known ISIS camps.
.@POTUS “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, at levels not seen for many years, and… pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) December 26, 2025
Trump’s Expanding Military Footprint
The Nigeria operation marks another military strike under Trump’s second term.
The president has also ordered:
- Strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities
- Large-scale operations against ISIS targets in Syria following attacks on US personnel
- Massive military buildup around Venezuela
- Multiple strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels
“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,” Trump wrote in his Christmas message.
Political Reactions and Debate
Republican Senator Tom Cotton praised the strikes: “I commend President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our brave troops for these strikes against bloodthirsty ISIS savages.”
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said: “Merry Christmas to the Christians in Nigeria and around the world who know tonight that the President of the United States will fight for them.”
Critics have questioned whether Trump’s characterisation of the security situation is accurate. Nigerian officials previously stated that Trump’s claims ignore the multi-faceted nature of violence in the country.
Defence Cooperation Framework
The strikes were conducted as part of existing security cooperation between Washington and Abuja.
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry stressed the country’s commitment to “protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity.”
The ministry added that “terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
Broader Regional Context
Nigeria has faced security challenges from various militant groups for years.
Boko Haram, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law, has killed thousands of both Muslims and Christians. The group also targets Muslims it deems “not Muslim enough.”
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) split from Boko Haram in 2016 and has conducted numerous attacks across the region.
Mass kidnappings have become a regular security concern, with armed groups targeting schools and villages for ransom and ideological purposes.
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What Comes Next
Defence Secretary Hegseth’s warning of “more to come” suggests additional military operations could follow.
Trump has demonstrated willingness to use military force abroad despite earlier campaign promises to limit foreign interventions.
The question remains whether these strikes will address Nigeria’s complex security challenges or further complicate the already difficult situation facing both Christian and Muslim communities.
Nigeria’s government faces the delicate task of cooperating with Washington while managing domestic political sensitivities around foreign military operations on Nigerian soil.
For now, the strikes represent a dramatic escalation in US involvement in West African counterterrorism operations under the Trump administration.
