The United States has carried out coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants operating in northern Nigeria, marking a rare direct military intervention in the country’s long-running battle against terrorism.
The operation, confirmed by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), targeted suspected ISIS enclaves in Sokoto State and was executed in collaboration with Nigerian security authorities. A senior US official disclosed that multiple militant targets were neutralised during the strikes.
Former US President Donald Trump announced the attack via his Truth Social platform, describing the militants as extremists responsible for widespread killings, particularly of civilians. Trump said the operation was authorised under his directive and warned that extremist violence against religious communities would not be tolerated.
According to Trump, the strikes were conducted with what he described as “precision and overwhelming force,” adding that the US would continue to confront radical Islamist groups wherever they pose a threat.
The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, echoed the message on X, stating that Washington had previously issued warnings over attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and that the militants had now “felt the consequences.” He hinted that further military action could follow.
However, Nigerian authorities have repeatedly cautioned against framing the country’s security crisis as a religious conflict. The federal government has stressed that terrorist groups in Nigeria indiscriminately target both Christians and Muslims, describing the violence as part of a broader insurgency and criminal network problem.
Following the airstrikes, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the country’s commitment to counter-terrorism operations that prioritise civilian safety, national unity, and human rights. The ministry emphasized that extremist violence—regardless of the victims’ faith or ethnicity—remains a direct threat to Nigeria’s core values and global security.
The strikes come amid heightened concern over insecurity in northern Nigeria. Just last month, more than 300 students were abducted from a Catholic school in the region in one of the country’s largest mass kidnappings in recent years. All the students were later released before Christmas, following sustained security pressure.
Nigeria has continued to work with international partners, including the United States, to strengthen intelligence sharing, military capacity, and regional cooperation in its fight against extremist groups.