The United States has carried out a wave of 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 strikes on Thursday, describing them as “powerful and deadly” operations aimed at militants he accused of carrying out brutal attacks on civilians. In a social media post, Trump said the fighters had been “viciously targeting and killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
The attacks come as Nigeria’s military continues to struggle with multiple armed groups operating across the country, stretching its capacity and resources as violence persists in several regions at once.
Support for overstretched security forces
Nigeria’s armed forces have spent more than a decade fighting insurgent and extremist groups, often with limited manpower and equipment. Although the military frequently conducts airstrikes against militant hideouts, particularly in states such as Sokoto, it remains under constant pressure from simultaneous conflicts in different parts of the country.
The US strikes are seen as an important boost for Nigerian security forces, which are often outgunned and forced to operate in vast, difficult-to-control territories. In response to growing insecurity, the government has expanded recruitment into the military and other security agencies.
Trump had previously signaled a tougher approach in November, when he directed the US military to prepare for possible action in Nigeria to counter Islamist extremist groups.
Security cooperation with Washington
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the country is engaged in ongoing, structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to confront terrorism and violent extremism.
According to the ministry, this cooperation has resulted in “precise attacks on terrorist targets” in the northwest. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emphasized that Nigeria remains a religiously tolerant nation, noting that the country’s security challenges affect people regardless of their religion or region.
The United States has previously designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom, a status that allows for sanctions. Trump has repeatedly argued that extremist violence poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s Christian population, though Nigerian officials and analysts say both Christians and Muslims have been deeply affected.
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 wreaked havoc in northeastern Nigeria, killing thousands of people. Conflict monitoring groups note that many of the victims have been Muslims, highlighting the broad impact of the violence.
In the northwest, another Islamic State affiliate known as the Islamic State’s Sahel Province, locally referred to as Lakurawa, has established a growing presence. Neither US nor Nigerian authorities have said which specific group was targeted in the latest strikes.
Experts say militant groups thrive in remote areas where the state has little presence. These regions often face extreme poverty, food insecurity, and high unemployment, conditions that make recruitment easier and undermine long-term stability.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has previously acknowledged that military force alone cannot resolve the crisis, estimating that armed action accounts for only 30% of the solution, while the rest depends on better governance, development, and addressing the underlying causes of violence.
