By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
President Donald Trump has announced that the United States military carried out airstrikes against what he described as terrorist targets in northern Nigeria, marking the first known direct U.S. kinetic military action in the West African country.
In a statement posted late Thursday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the strikes targeted ISIS-linked militants operating in northwest Nigeria, accusing them of carrying out mass killings of Christians.
“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,” he wrote.
The U.S. president vowed further military action, warning militant groups that more attacks would follow if the violence continued.
“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,” he added. “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”.
Trump’s announcement comes days after reports emerged that the United States had been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over Nigerian airspace since November, following his earlier threats to intervene militarily against armed groups he accused of targeting Christians.
It remains unclear whether the Nigerian government authorised the strikes. Trump’s statement did not indicate that approval was sought or granted, and there was no mention of coordination with Nigerian security forces.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Nigerian government were unsuccessful as of Thursday night, with a spokesperson declining to comment on the reported operation.
Heritage Times HT reports that the development is likely to raise serious diplomatic and sovereignty concerns, as Nigeria has not publicly acknowledged any joint military operation with the United States on its territory.
Nigerian Government Confirms Collaboration On Strikes
The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Friday confirmed that the precision airstrikes in North West Nigeria were jointly carried out with the United States, targeting what it described as foreign ISIS-linked elements operating in the region. The military said the operation was authorised by the appropriate Federal Government authorities and formed part of ongoing coordinated efforts to eliminate transnational terrorist threats undermining national security.
According to the Defence Headquarters, the strikes were based on credible intelligence and detailed operational planning to limit civilian harm, with the military stressing that the action demonstrated Nigeria’s resolve to deny foreign fighters any foothold in the country. The Armed Forces said it remained “fully committed to protecting lives and property” and would continue to work with strategic partners through joint and inter-agency operations to “restore lasting peace and security across affected areas”.
Also, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday confirmed that the airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria were conducted within the framework of structured security cooperation and intelligence collaboration between Nigerian authorities and international partners, including the United States. The ministry said the engagement, which covers intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, resulted in precision strikes on terrorist targets in the North West, in line with bilateral understandings and international law.
In a statement by its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry said Nigeria remained committed to working with its partners to confront terrorism while safeguarding civilian lives and national unity, stressing that extremist violence “in whatever form and against any community is a direct assault on the country’s values and international peace”.
It added that counter-terrorism operations are guided by respect for sovereignty, the protection of all citizens irrespective of religion or ethnicity, and sustained efforts to “weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats through established diplomatic and security channels”.
