Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has officially acknowledged that coordinated precision strikes were conducted against foreign ISIS-affiliated militants operating in the country’s Northwest region, marking a rare confirmation of U.S. military involvement on Nigerian territory.
Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, released a statement early Friday confirming the joint operation between Nigerian Armed Forces and the United States military. According to Uba, the strikes received approval from appropriate federal authorities and represent part of broader counterterrorism efforts.
“The operation followed credible intelligence and careful operational planning aimed at degrading the capability of the targeted elements while minimising collateral damage,” Uba stated. He emphasized that the action demonstrates Nigeria’s determination, alongside strategic partners, to combat transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from gaining ground within the nation’s borders.
The Defence spokesperson reaffirmed the military’s commitment to protecting citizens and supporting collaborative security initiatives aimed at restoring stability nationwide.
The confirmation came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the strikes via his Truth Social platform late Thursday. Trump connected the operation to ongoing violence against Christian communities by terrorist organizations, warning that additional strikes would follow if attacks continued.
“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 wrote, describing the strikes as executed by what he termed the “Department of War.”
The U.S. president made clear his administration’s position on extremist violence, stating, “Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.” He concluded his message with controversial seasonal remarks referencing “dead terrorists.”
The Islamic State West Africa Province and other militant factions have maintained active operations across Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest regions, launching attacks on civilian populations, security forces, and religious communities. However, official acknowledgment of foreign military combat operations within Nigerian territory remains uncommon and represents a diplomatically sensitive matter.
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