Missiles flew, warnings were issued, and Washington sent a clear message: attacks on civilians — especially Christians — will not be ignored.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered what he described as “powerful and deadly” airstrikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria’s Sokoto State, following a surge in deadly attacks linked to jihadist groups operating in the country’s northwest.
In a late-night post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said the strikes were carried out at Nigeria’s request, with more than a dozen Tomahawk missiles launched from a U.S. Navy warship. He warned that further attacks would follow if the killings continue.
The operation was confirmed by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, which said the strikes targeted foreign ISIS fighters operating within the bandit–ISWAP corridor, a region plagued by violence for more than 15 years.
According to rights groups, over 200 Christians have been killed in Sokoto State this year alone, amid a broader conflict that has left more than 35,000 people dead and over three million displaced across northern Nigeria. Recent kidnappings in Kaduna and Plateau states, as well as a suicide bombing in the northeast that killed five people, have intensified pressure on Abuja to act.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth praised President Bola Tinubu’s cooperation, citing intelligence sharing, joint operations, and Nigeria’s use of A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets against terror groups spreading across the Sahel.
Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, through Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, said the strikes were precise, designed to limit civilian casualties, and signalled the Federal Government’s determination to work with international partners to dismantle terrorist networks.
While critics warn the strikes could escalate tensions, security analysts say the action may boost morale among Nigerian forces battling insurgency in one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
For now, the message from Washington is blunt: the world is watching and responding.
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