United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that further military strikes will follow if Islamic State militants persist in attacks on Christians in Nigeria, following precision airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day against ISIS targets in the country’s northwest.
In a post on Truth Social on 25 December 2025, Trump announced that he personally directed the operation, describing it as a “powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
“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,” Trump stated. He added: “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.”
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strikes targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State, conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Initial assessments indicate multiple terrorists were killed, with no civilian casualties reported.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring to the Department of War, posted on X: “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The Department of War is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight—on Christmas. Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation.”
The operation marks an escalation in U.S. involvement against the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an ISIS affiliate active in northwest and northeast Nigeria. While Trump has emphasised attacks on Christian communities—citing reports from groups like International Christian Concern of thousands killed in recent years—Nigerian officials and analysts note that violence often stems from complex factors, including banditry and resource conflicts, affecting citizens across religious lines.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the strikes as part of ongoing intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism cooperation, aligning with international law and respect for sovereignty. Reports confirm the action followed months of U.S. warnings, including threats of intervention if violence against Christians continued.
