Nigeria has confirmed it is working closely with the United States on security operations after President Donald Trump announced a “powerful and deadly” strike against ISIS-linked militants in northwest Nigeria. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country remains engaged in “structured security cooperation” with partners including Washington, as new video shared on social media appears to show a missile launch connected to the operation.

Why It Matters

The reported U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto State mark a notable escalation in international involvement in Nigeria’s long-running fight against jihadist and extremist groups.

Nigeria has battled insurgencies and terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over a decade, alongside banditry and communal violence in different regions of the country. U.S.-Nigeria security ties—including intelligence sharing, capacity building and counterterrorism assistance—have been a key element of the regional response to these threats, as reflected in public statements from both Abuja and Washington.

The strike also comes amid renewed focus on the targeting of religious communities. Trump and other U.S. officials have repeatedly highlighted violence against Christians in Nigeria, while the Nigerian government stresses that terrorism in the country affects both Christians and Muslims.

What to Know

U.S.–Nigeria security cooperation

In a statement released on December 26 and shared on X, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country “remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.” The ministry added that this cooperation “has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West.”

The Foreign Ministry’s position reflects what Nigerian officials have described as long-standing collaboration with the U.S. on counterterrorism. According to reporting by Anadolu Agency, Nigeria has confirmed that this partnership includes intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and support “consistent with international law” and “mutual respect for sovereignty.”

Indian outlet Mint similarly reports that Nigerian authorities have signaled they are open to further U.S.-backed strikes, citing government confirmation of intelligence-sharing arrangements after the Christmas Day operation.

Trump’s announcement of the strike

Trump announced the U.S. strike on Christmas Day, saying on Truth Social that, “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.”

He added that he had previously warned such groups that “if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”

The U.S. side has publicly framed counterterrorism action in West Africa as part of a broader mission to disrupt ISIS and affiliated organizations. While U.S. Africa Command regularly publishes updates and press releases on its operations and partnerships across the continent, detailed public confirmation of individual strikes is often limited for operational and security reasons.

Nigeria’s stance on religious targeting

Trump’s language focused on attacks against Christians, and several Christian advocacy organizations have long argued that Christians are disproportionately targeted in Nigeria. International Christian watchdog Open Doors, for example, has listed Nigeria near the top of its annual World Watch List for persecution and has asserted that “more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined.”

Nigerian authorities, however, have repeatedly cautioned against framing the country’s complex security crisis as solely or primarily religious. In a statement issued in September, the Nigerian government said that “portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality,” emphasizing that both Christian and Muslim communities have been victims of extremist and criminal violence.

The Foreign Ministry’s latest statement on the U.S.-linked strike reiterated that “terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”

Recent attacks and broader conflict

The Christmas Day strike followed a separate attack on Christmas Eve in Nigeria’s northeast. At least five Muslim worshippers were killed and 35 others injured in a suspected suicide bombing at a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, during evening prayers. As of Christmas Day, no group had claimed responsibility for the bombing, according to Reuters.

Nigeria’s roughly 220 million people are almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Analysts and rights groups say the violence in the country stems from a mix of factors beyond religion, including:

• The insurgency by Boko Haram and ISWAP since 2009
• Armed banditry and kidnapping in the northwest and central regions
• Farmer–herder conflicts linked to land use, desertification and climate shifts
• Ethnic tensions, local politics and economic marginalization

Groups active in the violence have included Boko Haram, ISWAP, various armed bandit gangs and some Fulani militant factions, according to multiple NGOs and advocacy organizations.

What People Are Saying

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In its December 26 statement, the ministry said Nigerian authorities:

“remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism. This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West.”

It added that, “in line with established international practice and bilateral understandings,” this cooperation includes:

• “the exchange of intelligence”
• “strategic coordination”
• “other forms of support consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, and shared commitments to regional and global security.”

The ministry emphasized that all counterterrorism efforts are guided by:

“the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity.”

The statement concluded that Nigeria is working with partners “to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats, while strengthening Nigeria’s own security institutions and intelligence capabilities,” and pledged to keep the public informed “through appropriate official channels.”

U.S. defense leadership

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded to the operation in a post on X, writing: “More to come…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!” His comments underscored the U.S. view of the strike as part of an ongoing partnership with Abuja.

AFRICOM, the U.S. unified combatant command responsible for military relations and operations in Africa, regularly highlights joint efforts with African partners including Nigeria in its official press releases and media gallery. These materials typically stress counterterrorism cooperation, capacity building and respect for host nation sovereignty.

What Happens Next

Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that the government intends to continue collaborating with international partners, including the U.S., to counter extremist threats.

In practical terms, analysts expect:

• Continued intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between Abuja and Washington
• Potential for additional “precision hits” against identified terrorist targets, subject to Nigerian consent
• Ongoing diplomatic engagement through established channels to manage both operational and political sensitivities

AFRICOM is likely to maintain its focus on disrupting ISIS- and al-Qaeda-linked networks across West Africa and the Sahel, while Nigerian authorities pursue a combination of military operations and internal security reforms.

The extent and visibility of any future U.S.-backed strikes in Nigeria will depend on evolving threat assessments, domestic political considerations in both countries and the broader regional security environment.