The United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria on December 25. Nigeria’s government has confirmed the military action was a coordinated effort . The strikes mark a significant, direct U.S. intervention in Nigeria’s complex security crisis .
The operation targeted camps in Sokoto state, which borders Niger . A U.S. military official stated the attack involved more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a ship in the Gulf of Guinea . U.S. Africa Command said an initial assessment found “multiple” ISIS fighters were killed . U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude for Nigerian government support .
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, told the BBC the strikes were a “joint operation” . He said they resulted from intelligence sharing and planning over “quite some time” . Nigeria’s foreign ministry stated the action was part of ongoing, structured security cooperation with international partners . This confirms the operation was conducted with Abuja’s approval .
U.S.President Donald Trump announced the strikes on social media. He described them as “powerful and deadly” . He said they targeted ISIS militants “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians” . President Trump has previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians .
Nigerian officials firmly rejected framing the conflict in religious terms. The government stated armed groups target both Muslim and Christian communities . Foreign Minister Tuggar emphasized the operation had “nothing to do with a particular religion” . He said the timing on Christmas Day was coincidental, related only to targeting terrorists .
Analysts and monitoring groups support Nigeria’s position. They note there is no evidence Christians are killed more than Muslims in the violence . Nigeria’s population is nearly evenly split between the two religions . Most victims of long-term jihadist violence in the northeast have been Muslims, according to conflict data .
Officials did not name the specific faction hit.Security analysts believe the target was likely the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) . This group is known locally in Nigeria’s northwest as Lakurawa .
This group is distinct from the larger Islamic State West Africa Province active in northeast Nigeria . ISSP originated in the Sahel region and has expanded from Niger into northwestern Nigeria in recent years . It established camps in Sokoto and neighboring Kebbi state over the past 18 to 24 months .
The group’s history is complex. It was initially invited by some community leaders in Sokoto around 2017 to provide protection from bandit gangs . Analysts say the militants later overstayed their welcome. They began enforcing a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, alienating the local population . Communities now report the group is more oppressive than the bandits it claimed to fight .
The strikes highlight Nigeria’s severe and overstretched security forces.The military battles multiple armed groups across different regions simultaneously . These include Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates in the northeast, violent bandits in the northwest, and communal conflicts in central areas .
Analysts state the roots of insecurity are often governance problems, not purely military ones . Conflict hotspots suffer from high poverty, hunger, and a lack of jobs and state presence . This makes recruitment for armed groups easy. A former Nigerian defense chief once said military action is only 30% of the solution, with 70% depending on good governance .
The intervention provides crucial support to Nigerian forces . However, sustained success is challenging. Militants use vast forests for movement and often use hostages as human shields, complicating airstrikes .
This is the second major U.S. strike against ISIS in recent weeks. The U.S. previously conducted strikes in Syria after an ambush killed three Americans .