Nigeria stated that it shared intelligence with the U.S. prior to the Christmas night operations in the country.
On Friday, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is engaged in structured security cooperation with other nations—including the U.S.—noting that this collaboration led to precision hits on terrorist targets. The ministry added that joint security efforts involve intelligence sharing and strategic coordination.
“Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity. 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 stated in an official release.
The President announced the Christmas night airstrikes in northwest Nigeria, explaining that the targets were ISIS militants accused of killing Christians. The president also warned that further attacks would occur if violence against Christians continued.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday.
“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. 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,” he continued. “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. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz—who has been vocal about violence against Christians in Nigeria—praised the strikes. The ambassador noted that the precision strikes showed Christians in Nigeria and globally that Trump would “fight for them.”
Last month, Trump threatened to “do things in Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” and “go into that now disgraced country guns-a-blazing.”
That warning set the stage for the Christmas-night strikes, which the Secretary of War said fulfilled the president’s demand to end the killings. Hegseth also referenced the U.S.-Nigeria cooperation leading to the strikes in a .
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth wrote on X. “The [War Department] is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
in Nigeria have faced attacks in recent months, sparking global outrage and drawing the Trump administration’s ire.
In November, armed gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church, killing two people and kidnapping dozens. The 38 abducted worshippers were freed nearly a week later.
The Christ Apostolic Church attack was preceded and followed by assaults on Christian schools in Nigeria.
In the days before the attack, gunmen from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. One girl escaped the same day as the kidnapping, while the remaining 24 were rescued about a week later, reported.
Days after the Christ Apostolic Church attack, armed assailants raided Saint Mary’s School and kidnapped over 300 students and staff. School officials said 50 students escaped in the following days, while 253 students and 12 teachers remain captive.
Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.