US President Donald Trump has announced that American forces carried out what he described as a “powerful and deadly” strike against the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump referred to IS militants as “terrorist scum” and accused the group of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” He said the US military had conducted “numerous perfect strikes,” though he did not provide specific details about the timing, locations or targets of the operation.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth later commented on social media, expressing gratitude for the “support and cooperation” of the Nigerian government and ending his message with a Christmas greeting. However, Nigerian authorities have not publicly confirmed or commented on the reported strikes.
It remains unclear when the operation took place or what was hit. In November, Trump had instructed the US military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria aimed at Islamist militant groups operating in the region.
In his latest remarks, Trump said that under his leadership, the United States would not allow “radical Islamic terrorism” to thrive. His comments echoed earlier claims made in November, when he suggested that Christians in Nigeria were facing targeted violence. At the time, he did not provide evidence to support those claims.
Independent groups that track violence have disputed assertions of a religiously targeted campaign. Analysts say there is no evidence showing Christians are being killed at higher rates than Muslims in Nigeria, a country with a population that is roughly evenly divided between the two faiths.
Daniel Bwala, an adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, previously told the BBC that while Nigeria welcomed international assistance in combating jihadist groups, any military action should be conducted jointly and with respect for the country’s sovereignty. He also stressed that extremist groups in Nigeria have killed people of all religions, not one group specifically.
President Tinubu has repeatedly said that Nigeria’s security challenges affect citizens across religious and regional lines, emphasising the country’s commitment to religious tolerance.
Earlier, Trump declared Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing what he described as an “existential threat” to Christians. The designation, used by the US State Department, can lead to sanctions against countries accused of severe violations of religious freedom. Nigerian authorities responded by reaffirming their willingness to cooperate with the US and international partners to protect all communities.
Militant groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have carried out attacks in north-eastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), the majority of victims have been Muslims.
In central Nigeria, long-running conflicts between largely Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farming communities over land and water resources have also led to deadly cycles of retaliatory violence, with casualties on both sides. Human rights organisations say there is no evidence that one religious group is being disproportionately targeted.
The announcement follows recent US military action elsewhere. Last week, American forces carried out what officials described as a “massive strike” against Islamic State targets in Syria. US Central Command said more than 70 targets were hit across central Syria using fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery, with aircraft from Jordan also taking part.
