US President Donald Trump on Thursday night said he had ordered a “powerful and deadly” strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, accusing the group of targeting and killing innocent Christians in the West
African country.
“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!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“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,” he went on. “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.”
The president also warned of more strikes if the Christians continue to be targeted by terrorists. “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.”
The US Africa Command said the operation was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities. “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,” said AFRICOM.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was “grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation” for the mission. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the cooperation included exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination in ways “consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global security.”
.@POTUS “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… pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) December 26, 2025
“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,” the ministry said in a statement.
Trump’s Warning To Nigeria
For the last several months, Trump has accused the Nigerian government for persecuting innocent Christians in the West African country, warning that the United States would enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” to protect the Christian population.
“If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, “guns-a-blazing,” to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” he said last month, ordering the Defence Department to prepare for possible action.
In response to Trump’s criticisms, Nigeria’s government has insisted that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremist groups. Despite this, the US designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The US State Department also announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians there. Notably, Nigeria has long faced security threats from various terror groups, including ISIS and Boko Haram, which have also targeted the large Muslim population of the country. The country has faced a series of attacks on schools and churches in violence that experts say target both Christians and Muslims.
