US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had ordered strikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria, describing the militants as “terrorist scum” responsible for attacks on Christian communities. The president stated he had warned terrorists there would be “hell to pay,” and Christmas Day delivered on that promise.
The military operation followed warnings Trump issued in October and November characterizing violence against Nigerian Christians as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide.” The president had explicitly warned terrorist groups that failure to stop the slaughter would result in severe consequences, a warning now backed by military action.
According to Trump’s statement, the Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes” against militants who had been systematically killing innocent Christians. He emphasized that only the United States possesses such military capabilities and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to preventing radical Islamic terrorism from flourishing.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes as part of ongoing security cooperation between the two countries. The partnership includes intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the region. Nigerian officials stressed that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities, whether Christian or Muslim.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed appreciation for Nigerian cooperation in enabling the strikes. He suggested that more operations might follow, noting that ISIS “found out” the consequences on Christmas. The Pentagon released video footage showing missiles launching from warships. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while cooperating on security matters, has emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that the country is committed to working with international partners while ensuring religious freedom for all its people.