President Trump says the U.S. launched airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas night targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians, calling the operation decisive and warning further attacks would follow if the violence continued. “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum
President Trump says the U.S. launched airstrikes in Nigeria on Christmas night targeting ISIS militants he accused of killing Christians, calling the operation decisive and warning further attacks would follow if the violence continued.
“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…” – President Donald Trump
He announced on Truth Social that he directed the U.S. military to execute a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria on December 25, 2025. The operation, carried out by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, targeted militants in Sokoto State, who have been accused of viciously attacking Christian communities.
Initial reports confirm multiple ISIS-affiliated terrorists were killed in precise airstrikes, with no civilian casualties reported. Trump emphasised this as a direct response to the ongoing claim of genocide against Christians, warning of further actions if the violence continues. This marks a significant U.S. military engagement in Nigeria’s northern region, highlighting renewed efforts to combat radical Islamic terrorism.
There has been no independent confirmation of casualties, and the precise locations hit by the United States’ bombs.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), in a statement, confirmed that the Nigerian government collaborated with the United States on “precision hits” against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in northwest Nigeria
The Nigerian government confirmed a series of precision air strikes against terrorist targets in the North West region of the country. These strikes were made possible through structured security cooperation and intelligence sharing with international partners, specifically the United States.
The Ministry described the strikes as the result of “structured security cooperation with international partners,” specifically citing intelligence sharing and strategic coordination with the U.S. to address persistent threats of terrorism and violent extremism. The ministry emphasised that the joint operation aligned with international law and respected Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Contradicting U.S. President Donald Trump’s emphasis on the “slaughter of Christians,” the Nigerian MFA stated that terrorist violence against any community—regardless of faith—is “an affront to Nigeria’s values” and that the government is guided by the need to protect all citizens.
The statement affirmed that Nigeria would continue working through established diplomatic and security channels to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their organisation, and prevent cross-border threats.
President Trump’s decisive airstrikes against ISIS in Nigeria align with the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747), which mandates sanctions for those enabling religious persecution. The operation targeted ISIS-West Africa, a designated Entity of Particular Concern under Section 3(a)(2) of the Act, responsible for “slaughtering Christians” and destabilising the region.
This is not unilateral aggression—it is enforcing red lines after years of unchecked violence. The strikes mirror Trump’s doctrine of pre-emptive deterrence, leveraging precision military force to neutralise threats before they escalate.
Critics who call this an “overreach” ignore the $150B annual cost of global terrorism to U.S. interests. When terrorists attack Christians, they attack American values. Crushing them isn’t optional—it is a strategic necessity.
US President Donald Trump had threatened to carry out attacks in Nigeria in response to purported anti-Christian violence, saying he instructed the recently renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action”.
The US “may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing’, to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump added, without specifying which groups or alleged “atrocities” he was referring to.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” he wrote.
