The United States has carried out multiple airstrikes targeting Islamic State–linked militants in northwestern Nigeria, marking a sharp escalation in its involvement in the country’s ongoing security crisis.
US President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes on Thursday, describing them as “powerful and deadly” attacks against militants he accused of carrying out brutal assaults on civilians. In a social media post, Trump said the fighters had been “viciously targeting and killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
The operations come as Nigeria’s military continues to struggle with widespread insecurity, facing numerous armed groups operating across different parts of the country.
Military under strain
Nigeria’s armed forces have been fighting insurgent and extremist groups for more than a decade, often with limited manpower and equipment. Although the military regularly conducts air operations against militant hideouts, especially in states such as Sokoto, it remains stretched by simultaneous conflicts in the northeast, northwest, and central regions.
The US strikes are viewed as a significant boost for Nigerian security forces, which are frequently outmatched and spread thin. In response to the persistent violence, the Nigerian government has stepped up recruitment into the military and other security agencies.
Trump had earlier indicated a tougher approach in November, when he directed the US military to prepare for potential action against Islamist extremist groups operating in Nigeria.
Security cooperation with Washington
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the strikes were part of ongoing security cooperation with international partners, including the United States. The ministry said this collaboration has resulted in “precise attacks on terrorist targets” in the country’s northwest.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emphasized that Nigeria is a religiously tolerant nation, stressing that insecurity affects citizens regardless of faith or region. While the United States has previously designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom, Nigerian officials and analysts maintain that the violence cuts across religious lines.
A complex and deep-rooted conflict
For more than a decade, jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province have devastated northeastern Nigeria, killing thousands of people. Conflict analysts note that many of the victims have been Muslims, highlighting the complexity of the crisis.
In northwestern Nigeria, another Islamic State affiliate, known as the Islamic State’s Sahel Province and locally referred to as Lakurawa, has gained influence. US and Nigerian authorities have not disclosed which specific group was targeted in the latest airstrikes.
Experts say militant groups thrive in remote areas where government presence is weak and poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity are widespread. Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has previously said that military force alone can address only about 30% of the country’s security challenges, with the remaining 70% dependent on good governance, development, and tackling the root causes of violence.
