US President Donald Trump disclosed Thursday that he had ordered strikes against ISIS positions in northwest Nigeria, describing the militants as “terrorist scum” responsible for attacks on Christian populations. The president made clear that his administration would not tolerate persecution of Christians.
The military operation followed warnings Trump issued in October and November when he characterized the situation as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide” against Nigerian Christians. The president had explicitly threatened military intervention if violence continued, warnings that materialized into strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
In his announcement, Trump detailed that the Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes” against militants engaged in the systematic killing of innocent Christians. He emphasized American military superiority and his administration’s commitment to preventing radical Islamic terrorism from flourishing.
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes as part of established security cooperation with the United States. The collaboration includes intelligence sharing and strategic planning to address terrorism and violent extremism in the region. Nigerian officials stressed that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its cooperation and indicated that more operations could follow. He referenced Trump’s clear warnings about protecting Christians. The Pentagon released video footage showing weaponry being deployed from warships. While Nigerian President Bola Ahmed has participated in the security cooperation, he has also emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that characterizations of religious intolerance do not reflect the country’s actual commitment to protecting all religious groups.