The United States has carried out what President Donald Trump described as “powerful and deadly” strikes against the Islamic State in north-western Nigeria, marking a notable escalation in Washington’s stated approach toward Islamist militant groups operating in the region.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social late Thursday, Mr. Trump said the US military had “executed numerous perfect strikes” against Islamic State elements in Nigeria. He did not disclose the exact locations targeted, the timing of the operation, or whether the strikes resulted in casualties.
The US Department of Defense has not issued further details regarding the operation, and Nigerian authorities have so far not released an official confirmation of the strikes.
Trump Cites Threat from Islamist Militants
In his statement, Mr. Trump accused Islamic State fighters of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” and said his administration would not allow “radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.”
The US President has repeatedly drawn attention to violence in Nigeria in recent months, framing it as part of a broader global campaign against Islamist militancy. In November, he said he had ordered the US military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria to counter jihadist groups operating in the country.
At the time, Mr. Trump did not present specific evidence supporting claims that Christians were being disproportionately targeted.
Disputed Claims Over Religious Targeting
Independent conflict monitoring organisations and human rights groups have challenged assertions that Christians are being singled out in Nigeria.
According to data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), jihadist violence in Nigeria over the past decade has killed thousands of civilians, the majority of whom have been Muslims, particularly in the country’s north-east.
Nigeria is nearly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Analysts note that violence often cuts across religious lines and is driven by a complex mix of insurgency, criminal banditry, and competition over land and resources.
A senior adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu previously told the BBC that any military action against jihadist groups should involve close coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Daniel Bwala said Nigeria welcomed international assistance in tackling Islamist insurgents but emphasised that the country remained sovereign. He added that militants had killed people “from all faiths, or none.”
President Tinubu has consistently stated that Nigeria’s security challenges affect citizens “across faiths and regions,” and that the country continues to uphold religious tolerance.
US Designation Raises Diplomatic Sensitivity
Earlier this year, Mr. Trump announced that Nigeria had been designated a “Country of Particular Concern” by the United States due to what he described as an “existential threat” to the country’s Christian population.
The designation, used by the US State Department, can trigger sanctions against countries accused of severe violations of religious freedom. Mr. Trump claimed that “thousands” of Christians had been killed, though no official data was cited to substantiate the figure.
Following the announcement, Nigerian officials said they were committed to working with the United States and the international community to protect all communities, regardless of faith.
Militancy Across Multiple Regions
Nigeria has faced Islamist insurgency for more than a decade, particularly in the north-east, where groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have carried out mass kidnappings, bombings and attacks on both civilian and military targets.
In central Nigeria, violence is also driven by clashes between predominantly Muslim herders and largely Christian farming communities over access to land, water and grazing routes. These disputes have led to cycles of retaliatory attacks, with atrocities committed on both sides.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly said there is no conclusive evidence that victims of these conflicts are targeted primarily on the basis of religion.
Unanswered Questions
With limited information released about the reported US strikes, significant questions remain regarding their scope, impact and whether they were coordinated with Nigerian security forces.
Security analysts warn that unilateral foreign military action—if confirmed—could raise concerns over sovereignty and regional stability, particularly if conducted without explicit partnership with local authorities.
For now, both Washington and Abuja appear cautious in their public messaging, as scrutiny intensifies over the effectiveness and long-term implications of external military involvement in Nigeria’s complex and multifaceted security crisis.
