Trump Authorises ‘Deadly’ US Air Strikes On ISIS Militants In Nigeria

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that American forces carried out what he described as “powerful and deadly” air strikes against Islamic State group militants in north-western Nigeria on Thursday.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the operation early on Friday, saying the strikes were carried out with precision and targeted terrorist elements operating in the country.

According to the US Department of Defense’s Africa Command, the attack took place in Sokoto State and resulted in the deaths of “multiple ISIS terrorists”. The command said the strike was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities, using an acronym for the Islamic State group.

US Military Action in Nigeria Targets ISIS Militants

Details surrounding the operation remain limited, with officials not disclosing the exact number of casualties. Video footage later released by US defence officials appeared to show a missile being launched at night from a US-flagged battleship.

The strike marks the first known US military action in Nigeria under Trump’s leadership. It follows months of pointed criticism from the Republican leader, who accused Nigeria of failing to protect its Christian population amid ongoing insecurity.

Trump reiterated his position in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform.
“I had previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” he wrote.

He added: “MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

Nigeria–US Security Cooperation and Religious Tensions

The Nigerian government confirmed continued engagement with international partners, emphasising cooperation rather than religious framing of the violence.

“Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” the foreign ministry said.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also acknowledged the collaboration, posting on X that he was “grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation”.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Nyanga Christmas Shooting Leaves Three Dead, One Critical

Trump’s comments come after he publicly criticised Nigeria in October and November, warning that Christians there faced an “existential threat” amounting to “genocide”. While some groups welcomed the remarks, others warned they could inflame religious divisions in Africa’s most populous nation, which has a history of sectarian violence.

Nigerian authorities and independent analysts have consistently rejected characterising the country’s security crisis as religious persecution, arguing that criminality and insurgency affect communities across faith lines.

Rising Insecurity Across Nigeria

The United States recently placed Nigeria back on its list of countries of “particular concern” over religious freedom and imposed visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens. Trump also threatened to cut aid to Abuja if it “continues to allow the killing of Christians”.

Nigeria is roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south. The country’s north-east has endured more than 15 years of jihadist violence led by Boko Haram, a conflict that has killed over 40,000 people and displaced around two million.

Meanwhile, large swathes of the north-west, north-central and central regions are plagued by armed criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, who raid villages, abduct residents and kill civilians.

Adding to the unrest, an explosion tore through a mosque in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri on Wednesday, killing at least seven worshippers. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

---

For More, Follow SurgeZirc SA On  Facebook, X,  Instagram and Bluesky