US President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that American forces had executed strikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, targeting what he called “terrorist scum” attacking Christian communities. The operation came after an extended warning period from the administration.
The military action followed Trump’s warnings from October and November characterizing violence against Nigerian Christians as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide.” The president had given terrorists multiple warnings that failure to stop attacks would result in military consequences, warnings that materialized into strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
According to Trump’s statement, the Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes” against militants engaged in the vicious killing of primarily innocent Christians. He emphasized American military superiority and his administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward radical Islamic terrorism.
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes as part of established security cooperation with the United States. The partnership includes intelligence sharing and strategic coordination aimed at neutralizing militant groups. Nigerian officials stressed that terrorist violence against any religious community contradicts the nation’s fundamental values.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its cooperation and suggested that more operations might follow. He referenced Trump’s clear warnings about protecting Christians. The Pentagon released video footage showing weaponry being deployed from warships. While Nigerian President Bola Ahmed has participated in the security cooperation, he has also maintained 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 communities.
