United States President, Mr. Donald Trump has confirmed that the US has carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria on Thursday, December 25, (Christmas day), claiming the militant group had been targeting Christians in the region.
The Nigeria’s Ministry of foreign affairs, has also confirmed that the Federal Government gave the nod for the United States’ December 25, 2025 (Christmas day) airstrikes that hit terrorist targets in North West Nigeria, with Sokoto state mentioned as the immediate target of the operation.
The American president said in a post on Truth Social: “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 even Centuries!
“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. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”
The US president called them “powerful and deadly” strikes.
This affirmation from Nigerian authority was contained in a statement issued early Friday, December 26, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, further revealed that the operation was in line with ongoing security and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States following the earlier “Country of Particular Concern” designation of Nigeria by the US and the “go in guns ablazing” warning of President Trump.
The ministry said the collaboration, which led to precision airstrikes on terrorist targets, involved intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and other forms of support in line with international law, respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and shared security commitments, adding that terrorist violence, “whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
According to the statement, “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,” the statement said.
