Nigeria: US–Nigeria christmas day airstrikes target ISIS in Sokoto

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

December 25, 2025, the United States and Nigeria carried out coordinated airstrikes against ISIS‑linked militants in Sokoto State. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, former President Donald Trump said the operation was “in close coordination with the government of Nigeria” and timed for Christmas to send a clear message. He claimed the strikes “decimated the ISIS terrorists who have been slaughtering Christians in that country by the thousands,” and added that he personally ordered the hit for that day, not earlier or later.

The US Department of Defense reported that “multiple ISIS terrorists” were killed at the request of Nigerian authorities. Trump had announced the action on December 26, describing it as “powerful and deadly” and warning that further strikes would follow if attacks on Christians continued.

The event was attended by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, whom Trump praised as a “very respected woman” and a Christian pastor at one of Nigeria’s largest churches.

Nigerian officials framed the operation as part of ongoing security cooperation, stressing that the targets were broader terrorist elements, not a single religious group. Analysts note that the strikes hit areas such as Bauni Forest, a base for the Lakurawa group, which is not a formal ISIS affiliate, and that civilian casualties have been reported, prompting debate over intelligence accuracy and sectarian implications.