President Donald Trump has said the US launched a powerful and deadly strike against the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria. The US leader described IS as terrorist scum, accusing the group of targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians. Trump stated that the US military executed numerous perfect strikes, while the US Africa Command (Africom) later reported that Thursday's attack was carried out in coordination with Nigeria in Sokoto state.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a joint operation targeting terrorists, and it has nothing to do with a particular religion. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, saying this depended on decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries.
In his post on Truth Social late on Thursday, Trump said that under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. In November, Trump ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups. He did not clarify at that time which killings he was referencing—however, claims of a genocide against Nigeria's Christians have circulated in recent months within right-wing US circles.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude for Nigerian government support & cooperation. The US Department of Defense later released an unclassified video reportedly showing a missile being launched from a military vessel.
The Nigerian foreign ministry stated that the authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorist and violent extremism. They noted that this cooperation has led to precision strikes on terrorist targets, particularly in the North West.
Groups monitoring violence indicate that there is no substantial evidence suggesting that Christians are being killed more than Muslims in Nigeria, a country with an even religious distribution. According to the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, any military action against jihadist groups should be coordinated. He reaffirmed the need for collaboration with the US while also emphasizing Nigeria's sovereignty.
Trump had previously designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern due to the alleged threats against its Christian population, claiming thousands had been killed without substantiating evidence. This designation allows the US to impose sanctions against nations severely violating religious freedom.
Over the last decade, jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State's West Africa Province have wreaked havoc in north-eastern Nigeria, leading to significant casualties. However, resources suggest the vast majority of victims have been Muslims. In central Nigeria, conflicts over resources have frequently erupted between Muslim herders and Christian farming groups, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides. Human rights organizations assert that there is no confirmation of Christians being systematically targeted.
Last week, the US executed a large-scale strike against IS in Syria, showcasing its ongoing military engagements against terrorism globally.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a joint operation targeting terrorists, and it has nothing to do with a particular religion. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, saying this depended on decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries.
In his post on Truth Social late on Thursday, Trump said that under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. In November, Trump ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups. He did not clarify at that time which killings he was referencing—however, claims of a genocide against Nigeria's Christians have circulated in recent months within right-wing US circles.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude for Nigerian government support & cooperation. The US Department of Defense later released an unclassified video reportedly showing a missile being launched from a military vessel.
The Nigerian foreign ministry stated that the authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorist and violent extremism. They noted that this cooperation has led to precision strikes on terrorist targets, particularly in the North West.
Groups monitoring violence indicate that there is no substantial evidence suggesting that Christians are being killed more than Muslims in Nigeria, a country with an even religious distribution. According to the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, any military action against jihadist groups should be coordinated. He reaffirmed the need for collaboration with the US while also emphasizing Nigeria's sovereignty.
Trump had previously designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern due to the alleged threats against its Christian population, claiming thousands had been killed without substantiating evidence. This designation allows the US to impose sanctions against nations severely violating religious freedom.
Over the last decade, jihadist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State's West Africa Province have wreaked havoc in north-eastern Nigeria, leading to significant casualties. However, resources suggest the vast majority of victims have been Muslims. In central Nigeria, conflicts over resources have frequently erupted between Muslim herders and Christian farming groups, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides. Human rights organizations assert that there is no confirmation of Christians being systematically targeted.
Last week, the US executed a large-scale strike against IS in Syria, showcasing its ongoing military engagements against terrorism globally.
