US President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that US forces conducted deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists in Northwestern Nigeria and vowed more attacks if the militants keep killing Christians.
Trump stated this on his Truth Social platform, adding that the Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes.
He wrote, “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries!
“I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.
“May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
In a separate post on X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was “grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation.”
He wrote, “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, as ISIS found out tonight—on Christmas.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
US Africa Command revealed in an X post that it conducted a strike, which killed multiple ISIS terrorists in Sokoto State.
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the post read.
The attacks came only one day after a bomb ripped through a mosque in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing five people and injuring others in a suspected suicide bombing.
According to The New York Post, the African nation has been plagued by violence perpetrated by a variety of armed extremist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province.
Last month, Trump threatened to shut off US aid to Nigeria and enter the nation “guns-a-blazing” if the government did not do more to stop Islamic militants from killing Christians.
In his Truth Social post on November 1, the president stated that he authorized the War Department to “prepare for possible action” against “terrorist thugs” in Nigeria.
Last week, the Trump administration recalled more than two dozen ambassadors from all around the world, including Nigeria and numerous other African countries selected by former President Joe Biden.
Since assuming office in January, Trump has launched military operations in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Caribbean Sea, and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
