WASHINGTON: The United States has warned that more military strikes could follow in north-western Nigeria after American forces carried out airstrikes against Islamic State camps on Christmas Day, in an operation Nigerian officials say was jointly coordinated.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were part of Washington’s response to ongoing attacks in Nigeria, particularly against civilians.
In a post on X, he stated that the US president had made it clear that the killing of innocent Christians must stop, adding that the Pentagon was prepared for further action. More to come, he wrote, while thanking the Nigerian government for its cooperation.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed that the strikes were “part of joint ongoing operations between both countries.
INSERT SHOWS SOKOTO STATE OF NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA 
He said Nigeria provided intelligence that supported the airstrikes in Sokoto State and described the action as a collaborative effort to combat terrorism and protect innocent lives.
US President Donald Trump said the strike was initially planned for an earlier date but was delayed by a day on his instruction. He claimed the operation dealt a heavy blow to Islamic State camps in the area.
The US Africa Command (Africom) said the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Although neither government has confirmed casualties, residents of Jabo village in Sokoto said there were no deaths, though the strikes caused panic and confusion.
Some villagers described intense heat and a red glow in the sky as missiles hit nearby locations.
Nigeria, a constitutionally secular country with a near-even split between Muslims and Christians, has faced years of violence involving jihadist groups, bandits and criminal gangs.
While some attacks have been framed internationally as religious persecution, Nigerian authorities maintain that both Christians and Muslims are targeted.
Tuggar stressed that the operation was not directed at any religion but aimed solely at protecting Nigerians.
He added that the action marked a new phase of an old conflict and signaled continued cooperation with international partners.
The strikes come amid broader security challenges across Nigeria. Conflict monitors report nearly 6,000 violent incidents across the country in 2025, with civilians accounting for about half of the victims.
In the north-east, a separate Boko Haram suicide bombing at a mosque on Christmas Eve killed at least five people and injured dozens more.
US surveillance flights were reportedly conducted over the region earlier in the month, with operations believed to have been supported from a base in neighbouring Ghana. Forest areas in Sokoto and surrounding states have increasingly been used as hideouts by armed groups linked to Islamic State’s Sahel Province, locally known as Lakurawa.
Nigerian authorities say security operations against these groups are ongoing, as the government continues to seek international support in tackling terrorism and restoring stability across affected regions.
