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 operation demonstrated that the president’s warnings about military response were serious.
The military action came after Trump issued warnings in October and November when he characterized the situation as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide” against Nigerian Christians. The president had made clear that failure to stop the violence would result in severe consequences, specifically warning there would be “hell to pay.”
In his statement, Trump emphasized that the Department of War executed precision strikes against militants engaged in the vicious killing of innocent Christians. He highlighted American military superiority and his administration’s zero-tolerance stance toward radical Islamic terrorism. The president praised the operation’s execution on Christmas Day.
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes as part of established security cooperation with the United States. The partnership includes intelligence sharing and strategic planning to combat 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 additional operations could follow. He referenced Trump’s clear warnings about protecting Christians and noted that ISIS had learned consequences on Christmas. The Pentagon released video documentation showing weaponry being deployed from warships. While Nigerian President Bola Ahmed has participated in the security cooperation, he has also maintained that Nigeria’s constitution protects all faiths.
