FG confirms US airstrikes on terrorists, highlights intelligence cooperation

The Federal Government has confirmed sustained security and intelligence collaboration between Nigeria and the United States following airstrikes on terrorist targets in the North-West region of the country.

According to the government, the partnership resulted in precise aerial strikes against terrorist locations in the area.
In a statement released on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Nigeria remains engaged in “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” as part of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
The ministry explained that the cooperation, which culminated in the precision airstrikes, involved intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and other forms of support carried out in line with international law, with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and shared security obligations.
“Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” the statement said.
It added that acts of terrorism, “whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remain an affront to Nigeria’s core values and to international peace and security.”
The government’s statement followed remarks by United States President Donald Trump, who on Thursday disclosed that US forces had conducted lethal strikes against Islamic State terrorists operating in north-western Nigeria.
“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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He further stated that, “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” while warning that more attacks would follow if the killings of Christians persisted.
“If they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump added.
In a separate social media post, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the action was taken with Nigeria’s cooperation.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” Hegseth wrote, noting that the Department of War was “always ready.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that Nigeria would continue to engage its partners through established diplomatic and security channels to degrade terrorist networks, disrupt their funding and logistics, and curb cross-border threats.
The airstrikes came a day after a bomb attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, which left five people dead and several others injured in an incident authorities believe was a suicide bombing.
The ministry assured that the public would be kept informed through appropriate official channels. (The Punch)