Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed that Nigeria provided intelligence to the U. S. prior to the Christmas Day airstrikes against Islamist militants in northwestern Nigeria.
Foreign Minister Tuggar stated he was in communication with U. S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu authorized the strikes. The strikes were characterized by President Trump as a response to the targeting of Christians, though Tuggar emphasized that the operations were against terrorists and not religiously motivated.
These strikes are part of ongoing joint operations, with the possibility of further actions involving other countries. The U.
S. Department of Defense indicated these strikes were approved by the Nigerian government and carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Reports suggest the U. S. strikes landed in an empty farmland, though there are local reports of a previous Nigerian air force strike in a nearby area that resulted in casualties.
The U. S.
Secretary of Defense has warned of further strikes against Islamic State targets in the region, highlighting the cooperation with the Nigerian government. Nigeria, a secular nation with a near-even split between Muslims and Christians, faces complex security challenges, including insurgencies and banditry that affect all communities.