US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had authorized strikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria, describing the militants as “terrorist scum” responsible for attacks on Christian communities. The president declared that radical Islamic terrorism would not be allowed to flourish during his administration.
The military operation followed warnings Trump issued in October and November characterizing violence against Nigerian Christians as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide.” The president had made explicit threats of military intervention if attacks continued, warnings that culminated in strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
According to Trump’s statement, the Department of War executed multiple precision strikes against militants who had been systematically killing innocent Christians. He emphasized American military superiority and praised the operation’s execution as demonstrating unique capabilities. The president reaffirmed his zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes as part of established security cooperation with the United States. This collaboration involves intelligence sharing and strategic planning to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the region. Nigerian officials stressed that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed appreciation for Nigerian cooperation in enabling the strikes. He suggested that more operations might follow, noting that ISIS had learned a lesson on Christmas. The Pentagon released video documentation showing projectiles 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 characterizations of religious intolerance do not reflect the country’s actual commitment to protecting all religious groups.