Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has asserted that recent U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in the country's northwest did not violate national sovereignty, describing the operation as a fully authorized joint effort approved by President Bola Tinubu. The clarification came in interviews on December 26, 2025, following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of the strikes on Christmas Day.
Tuggar emphasized that the strikes were a "collaborative effort" based on Nigerian intelligence and high-level approval. "We collaborated on this attack. It was a collaborative effort between Nigeria and the US, and President Tinubu gave the go-ahead before it took place, and we don’t see it violating our sovereignty or territorial integrity, which is very important," Tuggar said in one interview. He stressed that cooperation was driven by the need to combat terrorism and protect lives, not religious considerations or external pressure.
The strikes targeted IS-affiliated camps in Sokoto State, with the U.S. military confirming multiple militants killed in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Trump announced the action on Truth Social on December 25, claiming the targets were IS militants "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians." He vowed further attacks if violence against Christians continues.
Tuggar pushed back on religious framing, stating the fight is "not about religion" but protecting all Nigerians—Muslims, Christians, or others. "It is about the protection of lives and property of Nigerians and our neighbours as well," he said. Analysts note northwest violence involves criminal banditry with growing IS links, affecting both religious groups, though Trump's rhetoric focuses on Christian victims.
On potential future U.S. troop deployments, Tuggar said such decisions rest with Nigeria's military and security agencies. He did not rule out additional strikes, calling them part of an "ongoing process."
The operation follows Trump's threats of intervention over alleged Christian persecution, which Nigeria has rejected as oversimplifying complex security issues. The government maintains full control over territorial decisions.
As tensions with militants persist, the joint action highlights evolving U.S.-Nigeria security ties under the Trump administration.
