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 strikes on Thursday, describing them as “powerful and deadly” operations. In a post on social media, he said the militants targeted were responsible for brutal attacks on civilians, claiming they were “viciously targeting and killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
The US action comes as Nigeria’s military continues to struggle with widespread insecurity, fighting several armed groups across different regions while grappling with limited resources.
A boost for an overstretched security force
Nigeria has been battling extremist and criminal groups for more than a decade, particularly in its northern regions. Despite frequent airstrikes on militant hideouts and expanded recruitment into the armed forces, the military remains under strain as violence persists on multiple fronts.
The US strikes are viewed as critical support for Nigerian security forces, which are often outgunned and spread thin across vast territories. Trump had hinted at stronger involvement last November, when he ordered the US military to prepare options to counter Islamist extremist groups operating in Nigeria.
Nigeria and the US coordinate security efforts
Nigeria’s foreign ministry confirmed on Friday that the strikes were carried out as part of ongoing 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 remains religiously tolerant, noting that the country’s security challenges affect citizens regardless of faith or region.
The US has previously designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious freedom, a move that allows for sanctions. Trump has repeatedly argued that extremist violence poses a serious threat to Christians in Nigeria, although local officials and analysts say both Christians and Muslims have been heavily affected.
Militancy rooted in poverty and weak governance
Militant groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province have terrorized northeastern Nigeria for years, killing thousands of people. Conflict analysts note that many of the victims have been Muslims, highlighting the broad impact of the violence.
In the northwest, another Islamic State affiliate, known locally as Lakurawa and formally as the Islamic State’s Sahel Province, has expanded its presence. US and Nigerian authorities have not specified which group was targeted in the latest strikes.
Experts say armed groups often take advantage of weak state presence in remote areas, where poverty, hunger, and unemployment are widespread. These conditions make recruitment easier and undermine long-term security.
Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, has previously acknowledged that military action alone cannot solve the crisis, estimating that force accounts for only about 30% of the solution, with the rest dependent on good governance, development, and addressing root causes.
