Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Christmas Day that the United States had carried out "powerful and deadly" airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in north-west Nigeria. Trump, who has spent weeks vocalizing concerns over the group's targeting of Christians, stated in a Truth Social post that the strikes were directed at "ISIS Terrorist Scum" who have been "targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!" He added that he had previously warned these terrorists that there would be "hell to pay" if they did not cease the "slaughtering of Christians."

The US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the strike, noting it was conducted in Sokoto state in coordination with Nigerian authorities. While an earlier statement from AFRICOM on X (formerly Twitter) indicated the strike was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities, this specific phrasing was later removed. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude for the Nigerian government's support and cooperation. Nigeria’s foreign ministry corroborated the strikes, stating they were part of ongoing security cooperation with the US, involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to target militant groups, which led to "precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West."

Trump’s decision to launch military action in Nigeria follows a period of heightened rhetoric and policy actions concerning the West African nation. He had previously threatened a "guns-a-blazing" US military intervention, asserting that Nigeria's government was inadequate in its efforts to prevent attacks on Christians by Islamist groups. Earlier in the year, he designated Nigeria a "country of particular concern" under the US International Religious Freedom Act, a move influenced by lobbying from American lawmakers and conservative Christian groups. Claims of Christian persecution overseas have become a significant motivating factor for Trump’s evangelical Christian base, who are among his most fervent supporters.

Despite campaigning as the "candidate of peace" in 2024, promising to extricate the US from "endless wars," Trump's first year back in the White House has been marked by multiple overseas military interventions, including strikes on Yemen, Iran, and Syria, as well as a military buildup targeting Venezuela in the Caribbean. The strikes in Nigeria mark the latest such intervention.

The situation in Nigeria, however, is significantly more complex than the religious persecution narrative often amplified by parts of the US right. Nigeria is officially a secular country, with a population almost evenly divided between Muslims (53%) and Christians (45%), with a small percentage practicing African traditional religions. While violence against Christians has garnered significant international attention, often framed as religiously motivated, the Nigerian government consistently rejects this simplification.

Nigerian officials have repeatedly stated that armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, and that US claims focusing solely on Christian persecution fail to represent the nuanced security challenges and overlook efforts to safeguard religious freedom. Nigeria’s foreign ministry, even while praising cooperation with the US on the strikes, "pointedly refused to acknowledge America’s actions had anything to do with the persecution of Christians," emphasizing that "Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security."

Many analysts concur, describing the situation as complex with deep historical roots. Deadly clashes between itinerant Muslim herders and predominantly Christian farming communities, for instance, are often rooted in competition over land and water, though religious and ethnic differences can exacerbate these conflicts. Similarly, the increasing kidnappings of priests and pastors are frequently viewed by experts as a trend driven more by criminal incentives – given their perceived influence and ability to mobilize ransom funds – rather than overt religious hatred.

Successive Nigerian governments have grappled with a deteriorating security crisis. In the northeast, groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have waged an insurgency since 2009, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. In the northwest, heavily armed criminal gangs, often referred to as "bandits," carry out mass kidnappings and raids impacting both Muslim and Christian communities. Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has affirmed that the characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect reality, stressing that "Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so… Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths."