US Launches Strong Strikes in Nigeria Against ISIS Militants, Trump States
US Strikes Target Islamic State in Nigeria
The United States carried out "powerful and deadly" strikes on Thursday against Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria, according to President Donald Trump. The attack marked a significant escalation in an ongoing offensive that Nigeria's military has struggled with for years, as it faces multiple armed groups across the country.
Trump described the militants as "terrorist scum," accusing them of "viciously targeting and killing mostly innocent Christians." He stated that the US military "executed numerous perfect strikes," while the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed the attack was a joint operation, part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between the two countries.
In November, Trump ordered the US military to prepare for action in Nigeria to counter Islamist militant groups. The strikes are seen as crucial support for Nigeria’s security forces, which are often overstretched and outgunned as they deal with multiple security crises in different regions.
In states like Sokoto, the military frequently carries out airstrikes targeting militant hideouts, and Nigeria has initiated mass recruitment of security forces to address the growing challenges.
Cooperation with the Nigerian Government
On Friday morning, Nigeria's foreign ministry released a statement saying that the country's authorities "remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism."
"This has led to precise attacks on terrorist targets in Nigeria through airstrikes in the Northwest," the statement added. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emphasized that there is religious tolerance in the country and that security challenges affect people "irrespective of religions and regions."
Trump has previously designated Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern" due to the "existential threat" it poses to its Christian population. This designation by the United States Secretary of State allows for sanctions against countries "engaged in serious violations of religious freedom."
Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, who are predominant in the south, and Muslims, who form the majority in the north, according to residents and security analysts.
Jihadist Groups and Their Impact
Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa have caused widespread devastation in northeastern Nigeria for over a decade, killing thousands of people. Most of the victims were Muslims, according to Acled, a group that analyzes political violence around the world.
The armed groups operating in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, include at least two organizations linked to the Islamic State: the Islamic State of West Africa, an offshoot of Boko Haram that operates mainly in the northeast, and the lesser-known Islamic State's Shahel Province (ISSP), known locally as Lakurawa, with a strong presence in the northwest.
US and Nigerian authorities did not specify which organization had been targeted in the recent strikes.
Root Causes of Nigeria’s Insecurity
Analysts highlight that the security crisis in Nigeria is more a governance issue than a purely military one. The motives for attacks vary, but armed groups often take advantage of the absence of state and security forces in remote areas, making recruitment easier. Evidence shows that these areas are among the poorest in the country, with high levels of poverty, hunger, and unemployment.
Nigeria's Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has stated that military action covers only 30 per cent of what is needed to fix the country's security crisis, while the remaining 70 per cent depends on good governance.
“The absence of the state in remote communities is making it easy for non-state actors to come in and present themselves to the people as the best alternative government,” said Samuel.
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