On Christmas Day, military airstrikes was carried out by the United States on Islamist militant group targets in the north-west region ofNigeria, particularly in Sokoto State.
President Donald Trump is said to have ordered the airstrikes, which he described as “powerful and deadly.”
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar confirmed that Nigeria provided intelligence to the United States in advance of the strikes and that there were multiple phone calls between the two countries.
President Bola Tinubu gave approval for the operation which is said to be in response for violent attacks in the region, especially on Christian communities.
Both governments describe the December 25 attacks as part of an ongoing security cooperation effort to target jihadist groups, with Nigeria emphasizing the collaboration is meant to confront extremism and violent groups without religious bias.
The intelligence sharing and cooperation with the United States helped identify militant targets and supported precision in the strikes. Nigeria’s foreign ministry framed the cooperation as part of structured security coordination rather than unilateral U.S. action.
U.S. military sources say the operation was requested by the Nigerian government and was conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities, including intelligence exchange.
The airstrikes mark an escalation in U.S. military involvement in Nigeria’s long struggle with armed bandits and Islamist groups like Islamic State West Africa Province and other affiliated extremist factions.
The United States said the strikes was a response to brutal attacks, especially those against Christians, though Nigerian officials underscore that terrorists and militants target all communities regardless of religion.
Nigeria has indicated that joint operations and intelligence sharing wpartners may continue as part of a broader effort to counter terrorism and violent extremism.
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