Nigeria’s government has confirmed that U.S. airstrikes targeting suspected Islamic State militants in Sokoto State on Christmas night were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities, describing the operation as part of ongoing joint efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
Why It Matters
The strikes, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump and carried out by U.S. Africa Command, mark a significant escalation in U.S. military engagement against Islamic State–aligned groups in Nigeria’s northwest. Nigeria’s response underscores the depth of its security cooperation with the United States, as well as the government’s effort to frame the operation as consistent with its sovereignty and international law amid heightened sensitivity over foreign military action on its soil.
What to Know
Nigeria confirms joint coordination and intelligence sharing
In a statement dated December 26, 2025, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said recent “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the Northwest” were the result of structured security cooperation with partners such as the United States. The ministry said this cooperation includes intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, carried out “consistent with international law and respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.”
According to the statement, the partnership is guided by established international practice and bilateral agreements, encompassing:
- Joint intelligence and targeting support
- Strategic and operational coordination
- Other forms of assistance aimed at degrading terrorist networks
Focus on civilian protection and national unity
The ministry emphasized that all counterterrorism operations are designed to prioritize the protection of civilian lives and uphold the rights and dignity of all Nigerians, “regardless of faith or ethnicity.” It described terrorist attacks on any community—Christian, Muslim, or otherwise—as a direct threat to Nigeria’s core values and to regional and global peace and security.
Nigeria also said it is working with partners to:
- Weaken terrorist organizations’ command structures
- Disrupt financing and logistical networks
- Counter cross-border movements and threats
- Strengthen Nigeria’s own security and intelligence capabilities
The foreign ministry added that it will continue to engage with international partners “through diplomatic and security channels” and will keep the public informed via official government communications.
Details of the U.S. airstrikes in Sokoto
The Christmas night operation targeted Islamic State–linked militants in northwest Nigeria, specifically in Sokoto State, according to U.S. officials. The strikes were carried out by U.S. aircraft under the authority of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), following what Washington described as credible intelligence on Islamic State targets involved in or linked to recent violence.
Nigeria’s recent statements align with earlier reporting that Abuja had shared intelligence and given supportfor the U.S. operation, confirming that the action was not conducted unilaterally.
What People Are Saying
U.S. military officials
Gen. Dagvin Anderson, a senior commander with U.S. Africa Command, said AFRICOM is working closely with Nigerian and regional partners to bolster counterterrorism efforts in response to ongoing violence and threats against civilians.
“U.S. Africa Command is working with Nigerian and regional partners to increase counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to ongoing violence and threats against innocent lives. Our goal is to protect Americans and to disrupt violent extremist organizations wherever they are,” Anderson said, framing the strikes as part of a broader regional counterterrorism strategy.
Trump administration’s stance
President Donald Trump has publicly linked the Sokoto operation to a broader pledge to confront what he calls “radical Islamic terrorism” in Nigeria, especially in connection with attacks on Christian communities in the country’s north. According to official accounts of the operation, the strikes followed earlier U.S. warnings directed at Islamist militant groups believed to be responsible for a series of deadly incidents.
In a Christmas message, Trump vowed that his administration would not allow such violence to continue and signaled that the United States would respond to future attacks attributed to these groups. His remarks came amid growing scrutiny of U.S. policy toward Nigeria and broader U.S.–Africa security cooperation, which has included expanded intelligence-sharing and operational support.
What Happens Next
Nigeria’s statement signals that Abuja is open to continued, and potentially expanded, U.S.-backed counterterrorism operations under existing frameworks for security cooperation. The government indicated that:
- Intelligence sharing with the United States and other partners will continue.
- Joint efforts will focus on dismantling terrorist networks and preventing cross-border spillover.
- Official channels will be used to communicate further developments to the Nigerian public.
U.S. officials, for their part, have suggested that additional strikes remain possible if militant attacks persist, particularly those targeting Christian communities and other civilians. According to reporting on Abuja’s latest comments, Nigerian authorities have not ruled out further coordinated operations with the U.S. and other allies, provided they comply with international law and Nigeria’s sovereignty.
As Nigeria and the United States deepen their counterterrorism collaboration, future actions are likely to center on expanded intelligence-sharing, continued precision strikes against identified militant targets, and efforts to limit civilian harm while responding to evolving security threats in the country’s northwest and beyond.
