Washington/Abuja, January 9, 2026 – U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated warnings that Washington could launch further military strikes in Nigeria if violence against Christians persists, following a Christmas Day 2025 airstrike against Islamic State-linked militants in the northwest of the country. The remarks, made in an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, January 8, 2026, underscore escalating U.S. rhetoric on religious persecution in Nigeria amid ongoing security challenges in the West African nation.
Trump's comments came when asked whether the December 25, 2025, operation—described by the U.S. as targeting "ISIS Terrorist Scum" who have been "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians"—signaled the start of a broader campaign. "I’d love to make it a one-time strike," Trump stated. "But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike."
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strikes involved multiple Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a Navy vessel in the Gulf of Guinea, hitting Islamic State-affiliated sites in Sokoto State, near the border with Niger. The operation was coordinated with Nigerian authorities, who provided intelligence and approved the action. AFRICOM stated that "multiple" militants were killed, though exact casualty figures remain unverified independently.
Trump framed the intervention as a response to what he has repeatedly called an "existential threat" to Christianity in Nigeria, a theme that gained prominence in his campaign and early second term. In late October 2025, he threatened to intervene militarily "guns-a-blazing" if the Nigerian government failed to protect Christian communities from Islamist militants. The issue has resonated with his evangelical base in the U.S., with some Republican lawmakers and activists alleging a "genocide" against Christians.
However, the Nigerian government has consistently rejected claims of systematic targeting of Christians, emphasizing that violence in the country affects all religious groups. Ademola Oshodi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, described the Christmas Day strikes as a "one-off event" and a "joint operation" with the U.S., aimed at counterterrorism rather than religious motives. Oshodi stressed that Nigeria retained full decision-making control and that the action exemplified improved bilateral cooperation under agreed rules of engagement.
When questioned about statements from his senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos—who in late 2025 noted that groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) have killed more Muslims than Christians—Trump acknowledged broader casualties but maintained: "I think that Muslims are being killed also in Nigeria. But it’s mostly Christians."
The strikes targeted the Lakurawa group, an emerging Islamist outfit enforcing strict sharia in Sokoto and Kebbi states, rather than the more notorious Boko Haram in the northeast. Analysts and local reports highlight that violence in northwest Nigeria often stems from banditry, extortion, and local conflicts rather than primarily religious persecution. The predominantly Muslim population in Sokoto has borne the brunt of such attacks, raising questions about the framing of the operation as Christian-focused.
Post-strike developments include resumed U.S. intelligence and surveillance flights over Nigeria, as indicated by flight-tracking data. Nigerian officials have indicated openness to further cooperation, potentially with U.S. reconnaissance support for domestic operations, though no additional strikes have been reported as of January 9, 2026.
The episode has sparked debate over foreign intervention in Nigeria's security challenges, with critics warning of sovereignty concerns and the risk of escalating tensions. Supporters, including some Nigerian voices, have welcomed targeted counterterrorism assistance against Islamist threats.
Nigeria faces multifaceted violence: Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast, banditry and herder-farmer clashes in the north-central and northwest, and kidnapping for ransom nationwide. Human rights groups document civilian deaths across communities, with no evidence of systematic religious genocide as alleged by some U.S. figures.
As the U.S. and Nigeria navigate this partnership, the focus remains on balancing counterterrorism with respect for sovereignty, while addressing root causes of insecurity such as poverty, governance gaps, and resource conflicts.
