The United States military carried out targeted strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militant camps in north-western Nigeria on Christmas Day, in an operation coordinated with and supported by the Nigerian government. The action, which US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned was just the beginning, follows heightened tensions over violence against Christian communities in the region.
A Coordinated Military Response
The strikes targeted ISIS strongholds in Sokoto state, an area bordering Niger where forests are used as bases by armed groups, including Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP), known locally as Lakurawa. According to the US military's Africa Command (Africom), the operation was conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed his country provided crucial intelligence for the mission, describing it as "part of joint ongoing operations."
Tuggar revealed the diplomatic mechanics behind the move, stating he had a 19-minute call with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, before seeking and receiving authorisation from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. A final five-minute call with Rubio sealed the agreement. "We have been working closely with the Americans," Tuggar told Channels Television. "This is what we've always been hoping for... It's a collaborative effort."
Political Context and Reactions
The strikes come after a period of diplomatic friction, initiated when former US President Donald Trump accused Nigeria's government of failing to halt the killing of Christians. Trump, who positioned the action as a direct response, wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had directed the "powerful and deadly strike" against "ISIS Terrorist Scum" who were targeting "primarily, innocent Christians."
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment on social media platform X, stating, "The president was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end... More to come … Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!"
Nigeria's government has consistently pointed out that armed groups target both Christians and Muslims in a country whose population is almost evenly split between the two faiths. Minister Tuggar emphasised that the operation was solely about "protecting Nigerians and innocent lives," not favouring one religion. He stressed President Tinubu's directive that it be clearly communicated as a joint operation not undertaken in the name of any single religion.
Local Impact and Broader Conflict
Initial reports from the village of Jabo in Sokoto, where the strike hit, suggested no casualties, with the area cordoned off by security forces. However, residents described scenes of panic and intense heat as the missiles struck. Farmer Sanusi Madabo said the sky glowed a bright red for hours, "almost like daytime."
For locals, the event stirred painful memories of a mistaken Nigerian air force bombing on Christmas Day last year, just an hour from Jabo, which killed 13 civilians. Compensation for that incident was reportedly paid only five days ago.
The conflict in Nigeria's north-west is complex. While framed internationally as religious persecution, clashes often have roots in competition for land and water between herders and farming communities, aggravated by ethnic and religious differences. Furthermore, the kidnapping of priests and pastors for ransom is seen by some experts as driven more by criminal economics than religious ideology.
The Christmas Eve suicide bombing at a mosque in north-east Nigeria, which killed at least five people, was separately attributed to the jihadist group Boko Haram, highlighting the multifaceted security challenges facing the nation. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (Acled) project, Nigeria has witnessed nearly 6,000 incidents of violence in 2025, with about half targeting civilians.
With US surveillance planes having been active over the region earlier in the month, and Defence Secretary Hegseth's promise of "more to come," this Christmas Day intervention marks a significant escalation in international military involvement in Nigeria's ongoing struggle against insurgency.
