The United States has claimed responsibility for a major military operation targeting suspected terrorist groups in northwest Nigeria, according to a statement posted late Thursday by Donald Trump.
In a post shared on social media, Trump said the operation resulted in the deaths of “many terrorists” and credited the action to what he described as the US “Department of War.”
He framed the strikes as a response to attacks he alleged were being carried out against Christians in the region.
“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, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump wrote.
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” he added.
Trump’s comments followed earlier moves in which he redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, citing allegations of genocide against Christians.
He also claimed to have instructed US defence authorities to prepare for action in Nigeria, after which, according to him, surveillance activities were conducted in the country’s northern region.
