Trump says US military struck Islamic State militants in Nigeria Submitted by MEE and agencies on Fri, 12/26/2025 - 12:39 US president said strikes targeted fighters accused of attacking Christian communities in Nigeria's northwest region US President Donald Trump leaves after announcing the US Navy’s new Golden Fleet initiative at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on 22 December 2025 (AFP) Off US President Donald Trump said he ordered strikes against Islamic State group (IS) militants in northwest Nigeria on Thursday night. Trump confirmed the strikes in a post on his Truth Social platform after spending weeks condemning the group’s targeting of Christians in Nigeria. “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!” said Trump. “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.” The US military’s Africa Command said it conducted strikes on Sokoto state in partnership with Nigerian authorities. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also posted that he was “grateful for Nigerian government support + cooperation”. Earlier statements posted by the US Army said the strikes had been conducted at Nigeria's request, but they were later taken down. Nigerian-US cooperation The Nigerian foreign ministry said the strikes were conducted as part of ongoing security cooperation with the US, which involves sharing intelligence to target militant groups. “This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” the Nigerian foreign ministry wrote on X. Trump administration reviewing Israel's 'military edge' as it eyes Gulf arms deals, sources say Read More » Armed bandits and militants belonging to the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), or Lakurawa, are reported to be operating in forests in forested areas along the border between northern Nigeria and Niger. The strikes followed a Christmas Eve bombing at a mosque in northeast Nigeria that killed five people and left 30 others seriously wounded. The Nigerian Army attributed the suicide bombing in Borno to Boko Haram, which has operated in the area for nearly two decades. Some analysts have argued that ISSP was formed by a group of herders who came together to fight incursions by bandits after the state refused to provide assistance. Nigeria’s population is evenly split between Muslims (53 percent) and Christians (45 percent). In recent years, violence against Christians in Nigeria has received significant attention from the religious right in the US. However, Nigeria’s government has pushed back on accusations of religious persecution, arguing that violence affects both Christian and Muslim communities. Analysts also say the situation is complex, with clashes in some regions driven by competition over land and water between Muslim herders and Christian farming communities - compounded by ethnic and religious tensions. Lagos has nevertheless agreed to work with Washington to target militant groups operating in the country. Islamic State News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0