The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has confirmed that airstrikes authorized by President Donald Trump were carried out in Nigeria’s Sokoto State, in coordination with Nigerian authorities, resulting in the deaths of several ISIS militants.
According to AFRICOM, the operation focused on known ISIS camps within the region. A US defence official said the mission specifically targeted terrorist strongholds, and footage released by the Pentagon showed at least one projectile launched from a US warship during the operation.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the strike, describing it as part of ongoing security collaboration between Nigeria and the United States.
The ministry stated that intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between both countries led to “precision hits on terrorist targets” in Nigeria’s northwest.
The operation follows warnings issued by Trump in late October, when he claimed that Christianity faced an “existential threat” in Nigeria and suggested that the United States could intervene militarily if the violence persisted. Reports had also indicated that US intelligence-gathering flights had been conducted across large parts of Nigeria since late November.
Nigeria’s government has rejected assertions that Christians are being uniquely targeted, emphasizing that armed groups have attacked both Muslims and Christians and that the country’s security challenges are multifaceted. Nevertheless, the government has agreed to deepen cooperation with Washington to strengthen efforts against militant groups.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged Nigeria’s support in a post on X, thanking the government for its cooperation and noting that further actions could follow.
The strike comes amid continued security challenges across Nigeria. On Wednesday night, police reported that a suspected suicide bomber killed at least five people and injured 35 others at a mosque in the country’s northeast — another region grappling with Islamist insurgency.
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