By publicly co-operating with the United States on a Christmas Day air strike, Nigeria’s government may have averted humiliating unilateral military action threatened a month ago by President Donald Trump.
But security experts say it is unclear whether such strikes can do much to hinder Islamist militants who have long menaced communities in the area.
Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday that US forces had launched a strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria’s government. He said the group had been targeting Christians in the region.
Local media reported loud explosions in the village of Jabo on the evening of Christmas Day. Reuters has not been able to confirm whether there were casualties.
A US defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the strike was carried out by about a dozen Tomahawk missiles launched from a US Navy warship.
Abuja confirmed it had approved the operation. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said yesterday that Nigeria had acted jointly with the US, but that no specific religion had been targeted.
“Nigeria is a multi-religious country, and we’re working with partners like the US to fight terrorism and protect lives and property,” Tuggar said.
After the strike, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X that there was “more to come.”
The US official said another strike did not appear imminent, but did not rule out future operations.
This specific strike was carried out by the United States, the official said, in part because the location was too remote for Nigerian forces to reach.
“It’s partially symbolic,” the official said, adding that the aim was also deterrence and to send a message that the Trump administration was prepared to use the military.
The northwestern area where Thursday’s air strike took place has been plagued since 2024 by increasing violence from members of the Lakurawa sect that claims affiliation with the Islamic State group.
Formed as a vigilante outfit, the group evolved into a jihadist movement enforcing strict Islamist rule across hundreds of villages in the area. Nigeria declared the group a terrorist organisation early this year.
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