The United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the region.
"Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched 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!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
His post went on to say U.S. defence officials had "executed numerous perfect strikes." The U.S. military's Africa Command said on X that the strikes were conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and killed multiple ISIS militants in Sokoto state.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on X thanked the Nigerian government for its support and co-operation and added: "More to come…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation," before signing off, "Merry Christmas!"
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said early Friday morning local time that precision air strikes hit "terrorist targets" in the country's northwest. It added that it remains engaged with Washington in "structured security cooperation."
The strikes come after Trump began warning in late October that Christianity faces an "existential threat" in Nigeria. He threatened military intervention in the West African country over what he said was its failure to stop violence targeting Christian communities.
Reuters reported on Monday that the U.S. had been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November.
Nigeria's government has said armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, and U.S. claims that Christians face persecution do not represent a complex security situation and ignore efforts to safeguard religious freedom. But it has agreed to work with the U.S. to bolster its forces against militant groups.
Varying motives behind violence in Nigeria
Nigeria's population of 220 million is split almost equally between Christians, living primarily in the south, and Muslims living primarily in the north. The country has long faced security threats from various fronts, including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.
But attacks in Nigeria often have varying motives. There are religiously motivated attacks targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups and ethnic clashes.
Police said earlier on Thursday a suspected suicide bomber killed at least five people and injured 35 others during prayers at a mosque in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri, another region troubled by Islamist insurgents.
In a Christmas message posted on X before Trump's announcement, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for peace in his country, "especially between individuals of differing religious beliefs."
He also said he would do "everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence."
Trump issued his statement on Christmas Day from his Palm Beach, Fla., Mar-a-Lago Club, where he's been spending the holiday. He had no public events during the day and was last seen by reporters travelling with him on Wednesday night.
The U.S. military last week launched separate large-scale strikes against dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria after Trump vowed to hit back in the wake of a suspected ISIS attack on U.S. personnel in the country.
