The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally confirmed sustained security and intelligence collaboration with the United States of America following recent airstrikes targeting terrorist enclaves in Nigeria’s North West geopolitical zone.
In an official statement released on Friday, December 26, 2025, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the air operations were a product of structured international security cooperation aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism within Nigeria’s borders.
The statement, signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, explained that Nigeria continues to engage closely with global partners, including the United States of America, through established diplomatic and intelligence-sharing frameworks designed to address evolving security threats.
According to the Ministry, the cooperation has resulted in what it described as “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” underscoring the role of coordinated intelligence, strategic planning, and operational support carried out in line with international law and full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Okay News reports that Nigerian authorities stressed that all counter-terrorism operations remain anchored on the protection of civilian lives, preservation of national unity, and the defense of the fundamental rights and dignity of all citizens, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation.
“Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” the statement said.
The Ministry further noted that terrorist violence, “whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
The government’s clarification followed public remarks made on Thursday by Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, who announced that American military forces had carried out multiple airstrikes against fighters of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, operating in Northwestern Nigeria.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added, “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
President Trump also warned that further military action would follow if attacks against Christian communities continued, stating, “If they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
In a separate social media statement, Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense, confirmed that the military action was carried out with Nigeria’s cooperation.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation,” Hegseth wrote, adding that the Department of War was “always ready.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Nigeria would continue working with international partners to dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics channels, and prevent cross-border security threats across the West African sub-region.
The airstrikes occurred just one day after a deadly bomb attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in North East Nigeria, which killed five people and injured dozens. Nigerian authorities have described the incident as a suspected suicide bombing.
The Ministry assured Nigerians and the international community that updates on security developments would be communicated through official government channels as events unfold.
