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US launches strike against IS in Nigeria
President Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out a "powerful and deadly strike" against Islamic State (IS) militants in northwestern Nigeria on Thursday. The operation, coordinated with Nigerian forces, targeted the group in Sokoto state, according to US Africa Command (Africom).
Trump frames strike as counterterrorism effort
In a post on Truth Social late Thursday, Trump described IS as "terrorist scum" and accused the group of "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians." He stated that under his leadership, the US "will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper."
Trump had previously ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria in November to address Islamist militant groups, though he did not specify which attacks he was referencing. Claims of genocide against Nigerian Christians have circulated in some right-wing US circles in recent months.
Nigeria confirms joint operation
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC the strike was a "joint operation" targeting "terrorists" and emphasized it was not tied to any particular religion. Tuggar noted the operation had been planned "for quite some time" using Nigerian intelligence but did not explicitly name IS.
Tuggar did not rule out future strikes, stating it depended on "decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries." The Nigerian foreign ministry later issued a statement Friday morning, affirming the country's ongoing security cooperation with international partners, including the US, to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
"This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West."
Nigerian Foreign Ministry
Disputes over religious targeting claims
Groups monitoring violence in Nigeria, including Acled, which analyzes political violence globally, state there is no evidence that Christians are being killed at a higher rate than Muslims. Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between followers of Christianity and Islam.
An adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, told the BBC that jihadist groups do not target individuals based on religion, noting that victims have included people of all faiths. President Tinubu has consistently emphasized religious tolerance in Nigeria, stating that security challenges affect people "across faiths and regions."
US designates Nigeria over religious freedom concerns
Earlier, Trump declared Nigeria a "country of particular concern" due to what he described as an "existential threat" to its Christian population, claiming "thousands" had been killed without providing evidence. This designation, used by the US State Department, allows for sanctions against countries engaged in severe violations of religious freedom.
In response, President Tinubu affirmed his government's commitment to working with the US and the international community to protect people of all faiths.
Broader context of violence in Nigeria
Jihadist groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province have destabilized northeastern Nigeria for over a decade, killing thousands-most of whom have been Muslims, according to Acled. In central Nigeria, clashes between mostly Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farming communities over resources have also resulted in deadly cycles of violence, with atrocities committed by both sides.
Last week, the US conducted a separate "massive strike" against IS in Syria, with US Central Command reporting that aircraft and artillery hit over 70 targets across central Syria. Jordanian aircraft also participated in the operation.
