The Federal Government has confirmed that a series of “precision hits” were carried out against terrorist targets in Northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, part of a joint security operation involving United States military assets.
The high-profile strikes, which occurred late on December 25, 2025, have drawn sharply contrasting official narratives from Abuja and Washington D.C. regarding the primary motivation of the mission against elements identified as ISIS affiliates.
In a press release issued from Abuja on Boxing Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the engagement. Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa stated the strikes were the result of “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America.”
The FG emphasised that the operation was entirely consistent with international law and mutual respect for Nigerian sovereignty. Crucially, the ministry stressed that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts are designed to protect all citizens “irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” specifically noting that terror is an affront whether directed at “Christians, Muslims, or other communities.”
This carefully balanced statement from Abuja stands in contrast to the aggressive rhetoric emanating from the White House.
In a statement released via social media on Christmas night, U.S. President Donald Trump took personal credit for ordering the “powerful and deadly strike” as Commander in Chief. President Trump explicitly framed the military action as a direct response to the persecution of Christians in the region.
“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 U.S. President stated, adding a “MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead terrorists.”
Further emphasising a shift in American military posturing, communiqués from Washington, including one from official Pete Hegseth, referred to the U.S. defence apparatus as the “Department of War.” Hegseth stated the U.S. was “grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.”
The strikes mark a significant escalation in direct foreign military involvement in the troubled Northwest region. While the Federal Government has sought to portray the events as standard international security cooperation meant to defend all Nigerians, the US administration is actively characterising the intervention as a religious defence mission aimed specifically at protecting Christians.
