WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� President said the United States launched a 鈥減owerful and deadly” strike against forces of the group in Nigeria, after accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in .
In a Christmas evening post on his social media site Thursday, Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused by the strikes in the northwestern state of Sokoto.
A Defense Department official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss details not made public, said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that they’d been approved by Abuja.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the cooperation included exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination in ways 鈥渃onsistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global security.”
The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes鈥� impact.
Nigeria fights several armed groups
Nigeria is battling multiple armed groups, including at least two affiliated with IS, an offshoot of the Boko Haram extremist group known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast, and the less-known Lakurawa group prominent in the northwestern states, where the gangs use large swathes of forests as hideouts.
Security analysts said the target of the U.S. strikes could be the Lakurawa group, which in the last year has increasingly become lethal in the region, often targeting remote communities and security forces.
鈥淟akurawa is a group that is actually controlling territories in Nigeria, in Sokoto state and in other states like Kebbi,鈥� said Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher at Good Governance Africa. 鈥淚n the northwest, there has been the incursion of violent extremist groups that are ideologically driven,” he said, blaming the incursion on the near absence of the state and security forces in hot spots.
Violence affecting Nigerians
Trump said the airstrikes were launched against IS militants 鈥渨ho have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.鈥� Residents and security analysts have said Nigeria鈥檚 , who are the majority in the north.
鈥淭errorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria鈥檚 values and to international peace and security,鈥� the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Nigeria鈥檚 government has previously said in response to Trump鈥檚 criticisms that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremist groups.
US measures affecting Nigeria
Trump ordered the Pentagon last month to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria to try and curb what he called Christian persecution. The State Department recently announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in there.
And the a 鈥渃ountry of particular concern鈥� under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Trump said U.S. defense officials had 鈥渆xecuted numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing” and added that 鈥渙ur Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.鈥�
Nigeria鈥檚 population of 220 million is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. The country has long faced insecurity from various fronts, including , which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.
But attacks in Nigeria often have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both and Muslims, over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, and ethnic clashes.
The in Africa, where military partnerships have either been . U.S. forces likely would have to be drawn from other parts of the world for any larger-scale military intervention in Nigeria.
Trump has nonetheless kept up the pressure as Nigeria faced a and that experts and residents say .
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted Thursday night on X: 鈥淭he President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.鈥�
Hegseth said that U.S. military forces are 鈥渁lways ready, so ISIS found out tonight 鈥� on Christmas鈥� and added, 鈥淢ore to come鈥rateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation鈥� before signing off, 鈥淢erry Christmas!鈥�
___
Associated Press writer Konstantin Toropin in Washington, and Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria, contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
