LAGOS, NIGERIA (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The United States has carried out a lethal strike against terrorist targets in Nigeria.
The operation, which took place on Christmas Day, was confirmed on Thursday by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Further explanation by the US Africa Command in a post on X had it that the attack was carried out in Sokoto State.
Confirming Trump’s post, the US Africa Command said it conducted a strike, which killed multiple terrorists who belong to the Africa branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The Africa branch of the ISIS are known as the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the post by the US Africa Command read.
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Trump in an earlier post on Truth Social had said: “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“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.
“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.”
The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, in a separate post on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”