U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria in response to the persecution of Christians.
The coordinated operation reportedly killed several terrorists. U.S. officials warned that additional strikes will be carried out if the ongoing violence against Christians continues.
The Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes” on Christmas Day, the US president said, before vowing more attacks if jihadists “continued killing Christians in the country”.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “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!”
The blitz was carried out in Sokoto state in coordination with Nigerian authorities and left several ISIS terrorists dead.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the attack was a “joint operation” targeting “terrorists”.
He said it “has nothing to do with a particular religion”, and refused to rule out further assaults.
Last month, Trump said he’d ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution.
Washington also designated Nigeria a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The State Department then announced in recent weeks that it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians in the West African country.
The escalation comes after months of pressure from conservative American lawmakers who claim Christians in Nigeria are facing genocide.
Christian and evangelical organisations have echoed those claims, which have also gained traction among far-right politicians in Europe.
“Christianity there faces an existential threat,” Trump said.
In an earlier post, he said: “Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass killing.
“When Christians, or any other group, are massacred as is the case in Nigeria (3,100 compared to 4,476 worldwide), action must be taken!”
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu swiftly responded, rejecting Trump’s accusations.
“Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu said.
“Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.
“Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths.”
Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed that position: “The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed or religion.
“Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation of 220 million people, has long faced severe security challenges.
In the northeast, the Boko Haram insurgency – active since 2009 – has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million, according to United Nations estimates.
Although weakened, Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to carry out attacks.
Both groups have targeted not only Christians but also Muslims, whom they consider insufficiently devout.
Elsewhere, violence between Fulani herders, mostly Muslim, and farming communities, often Christian, remains frequent in central Nigeria.
These clashes are often portrayed as religious conflicts, though they largely stem from disputes over land and resources.
In mid-October, Trump’s Africa adviser, Massad Boulous, acknowledged that jihadists were “killing more Muslims than Christians.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation of 220 million people, has long faced severe security challenges.
In the northeast, the Boko Haram insurgency – active since 2009 – has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million, according to United Nations estimates.
Although weakened, Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), continue to carry out attacks.
Both groups have targeted not only Christians but also Muslims, whom they consider insufficiently devout.
Elsewhere, violence between Fulani herders, mostly Muslim, and farming communities, often Christian, remains frequent in central Nigeria.
These clashes are often portrayed as religious conflicts, though they largely stem from disputes over land and resources.
In mid-October, Trump’s Africa adviser, Massad Boulous, acknowledged that jihadists were “killing more Muslims than Christians.”
