U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American forces carried out military strikes against terrorist groups operating in parts of northwest Nigeria.
The action, according to Trump, was aimed at militants accused of sustained attacks and killings in the region.
The announcement, made on December 25, has drawn international attention, as it directly places the United States in a security operation linked to Nigeria’s long-running battle with insurgency and terrorism.
Trump said the strikes were ordered under his authority as Commander-in-Chief and described them as targeted actions against ISIS-linked fighters.
In his statement, Trump accused the militants of targeting civilians, especially Christians.
According to Trump, the militants had been “viciously killing, primarily innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.” He said the groups had earlier been warned to halt the violence or face serious consequences.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria,” Trump said.
“I previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughter of Christians, there would be hell to pay—and tonight, there was.”
Trump further claimed that the military operation involved what he called “numerous precise strikes,” adding that the mission was carried out with accuracy and force.
He stated that the action was executed by the U.S. Department of War and insisted that his administration would not tolerate the spread of what he described as “radical Islamic terrorism.”
In a Christmas message following the announcement, Trump praised the U.S. military and made a controversial remark, saying, “May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all including the dead terrorists.”
Following the statement from Washington, the Nigerian government acknowledged that foreign military strikes had taken place in parts of northern Nigeria.
The confirmation came through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who noted that the strikes occurred but did not disclose operational details, casualty figures, or the level of coordination between Nigeria and the United States.
Moreover, northwest Nigeria has in recent years faced increasing attacks from armed groups, bandits, and terror-linked factions, leading to mass displacement and loss of lives.
The region has remained a major concern for both local authorities and international partners.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigeria’s military has not issued a separate statement clarifying the scope of the operation or its impact on ongoing counterterrorism efforts.