The United States has carried out multiple airstrikes against Islamic State–linked militants in northwestern Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s involvement in the country’s ongoing security crisis.
US President Donald Trump announced the operation on Thursday, calling the strikes “powerful and deadly.” In a social media post, he said the militants targeted were responsible for brutal attacks on civilians, accusing them of “viciously targeting and killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
Nigeria has been grappling with armed violence for years, with its military stretched thin as it confronts several insurgent and criminal groups across the country. The latest US action comes as Nigerian forces continue to struggle to contain the growing threat, particularly in remote and poorly governed regions.
Support for an overstretched security force
Nigeria’s military has long relied on air operations to disrupt militant networks, especially in northwestern states such as Sokoto. Despite these efforts, limited resources and manpower have made it difficult to achieve lasting stability.
The US strikes are viewed as an important show of support for Nigerian troops, who are often outmatched and required to fight on multiple fronts. In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Nigerian government has increased recruitment into the armed forces and other security agencies.
Trump had previously signaled a harder line in November, when he directed the US military to prepare options for countering Islamist extremist groups operating in Nigeria.
Ongoing cooperation with the United States
Nigeria’s foreign ministry confirmed that the airstrikes were carried out as part of broader security cooperation with international partners, including the United States. The ministry said the collaboration has resulted in “precise attacks on terrorist targets” in the country’s northwest.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated that Nigeria remains religiously tolerant and emphasized that insecurity affects citizens across all regions and faiths. While the US has designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom, Nigerian officials and analysts argue that the violence cuts across religious lines.
A complex and entrenched conflict
Extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province have wreaked havoc in northeastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people. Conflict data shows that many of those killed have been Muslims, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
In the northwest, a lesser-known Islamic State affiliate known as the Islamic State’s Sahel Province, locally referred to as Lakurawa, has expanded its presence. US and Nigerian authorities have not disclosed which group was targeted in the latest operation.
Security experts say these groups thrive in areas where the state has little presence and where poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity are widespread. Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has previously warned that military action alone is not enough, estimating that force accounts for only 30% of the solution, with the rest dependent on improved governance and development.
