US, Nigerian forces kill ISIS commander in Sokoto- President Trump
By: Ganiyu Olayinka
The United States has conducted airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwestern Nigeria, in what marks a significant escalation of American military engagement in the region.
US Africa Command confirmed the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State. A US official told Reuters that multiple targets were killed in the operation.
President Donald Trump announced the military action from his Mar-a-Lago residence via his Truth Social platform, framing the intervention as a response to militant attacks on Christian communities.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander-in-Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years,” Trump wrote. He added that he had previously warned the militants of consequences and that the Department of Defense had “executed numerous perfect strikes.”
Nigeria frames strikes as part of broader security cooperation
The Nigerian government said the US action formed part of ongoing intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between the two countries.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for calm and national unity, particularly across religious lines. “I remain committed to doing everything within my power to uphold religious freedom in Nigeria and protect Christians, Muslims and all Nigerians from violence,” he said.
Nigeria’s security crisis cuts across religious and geographic lines. Armed groups have long terrorised communities in both the predominantly Muslim north and the largely Christian south.
The strikes come days after the US also conducted what Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described as a “large-scale” operation in Syria, targeting approximately 70 locations believed to house Islamic State infrastructure and weapons.
Nigeria is home to at least two factions with links to the Islamic State. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram, operates mainly in the northeast. A lesser-known group, the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) known locally as Lakurawa operates in the northwest and has grown increasingly active in border states such as Sokoto and Kebbi over the past year, carrying out attacks on remote communities and security personnel.
While officials did not specify which faction was targeted in Saturday’s operation, security analysts believe the strikes were most likely directed at Lakurawa fighters.
The Nigerian military has previously stated that the group originated in neighbouring Niger and intensified its activity in Nigerian border communities following Niger’s 2023 military coup; an event that strained bilateral relations and disrupted joint military operations along the shared border.
Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation drew international attention last November when gunmen abducted more than 230 pupils and staff from St Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger State. The hostages were released on 22 December.
Armed groups in Nigeria have frequently targeted schools and rural communities, often holding victims for ransom.
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