The United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria, targeting camps in Sokoto state near the border with Niger, the US military confirmed. An initial assessment indicated “multiple” fatalities, though details remain limited.
US President Donald Trump described the strikes, which took place late on Thursday, as “deadly” and labelled the targeted militants “terrorist scum,” accusing them of “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said the operation was a “joint effort” with Nigeria and emphasised that the strikes were not motivated by religion. He added that further operations could follow, explaining the timing was determined by security considerations rather than the Christmas holiday.
The strikes mark a rare US intervention in Nigeria’s northwest, where jihadist activity has been less prominent than in the northeast, the usual centre of Boko Haram and IS-linked operations. Residents in the village of Jabo reported hearing explosions and witnessing smoke rising from fields. Haruna Kallah, a local resident, said the blast “shook the whole town,” while Umar Jabo said it initially sounded like a plane crash. Social media images showed locals observing the aftermath from nearby fields, although Umar Jabo denied any IS militants were present in the area.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christian communities from jihadist attacks and has previously labelled the situation in the country as a “genocide.” Nigeria is designated by the US State Department as a “country of particular concern” due to alleged severe violations of religious freedom.
The operation follows months of preparation. In November, a Nigerian presidential adviser indicated that US military support would be coordinated with Nigerian forces, responding to attacks affecting civilians of various faiths. President Trump affirmed the US commitment to combating “Radical Islamic Terrorism” in a social media post confirming the strikes, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigerian authorities for their cooperation.
Jihadist groups have caused widespread violence across Nigeria for over a decade, primarily in the northeast. Analysts note that most victims of attacks by Boko Haram and IS-affiliated groups are Muslims. Conflict expert Bulama Bukati suggested that Thursday’s strikes likely targeted a newer IS-aligned splinter faction, known locally as Lakurawa, which has established camps in Sokoto and Kebbi states over the past two years. Local officials, however, maintain that the affected areas have no known militant presence and expressed concern about the proximity of the strike to a hospital.
The US strikes in Nigeria come shortly after a major operation in Syria, where Centcom reported targeting more than 70 IS positions in response to an ambush that killed three Americans, including two soldiers.
On Friday, Nigeria’s foreign ministry confirmed continued “security co-operation with international partners, including the United States of America,” stating that the strikes aimed to address the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism in the northwest.
