US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had authorized strikes against ISIS positions in northwest Nigeria, describing the militants as “terrorist scum” responsible for systematic attacks on Christian communities. The military operation represented a fulfillment of previous administration warnings.
The action followed Trump’s threats issued in October and November when he characterized the violence as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide” against Nigerian Christians. The president had warned that continued attacks would provoke American military intervention, a commitment now realized through strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
According to Trump’s statement, the Department of War executed multiple precision strikes targeting militants who had been viciously killing innocent Christians. He emphasized that only American forces possess the capability to conduct such operations and reaffirmed his administration’s stance against radical Islamic terrorism.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the military action as part of established security cooperation with the United States. This partnership involves intelligence sharing and strategic planning to address terrorism and violent extremism. Nigerian officials stressed that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities, viewing such attacks as fundamentally opposed to the country’s values.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s cooperation in enabling the strikes. He suggested that more operations could follow, noting that ISIS had received Trump’s message on Christmas. The Pentagon provided video evidence of the operation showing missiles launching from warships. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while cooperating on security matters, has emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that the country is committed to working with the US while maintaining its dedication to religious tolerance and freedom for all its people.
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