The United States has launched a targeted military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwestern Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s involvement in West Africa’s long-running security crisis. President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes on Thursday, stating that US forces carried out a “powerful and deadly” attack on ISIS terrorists accused of killing innocent civilians.

The announcement has reignited debate over religious violence in Nigeria, US counterterrorism strategy in Africa, and the broader implications for stability across the Sahel region.

According to US Africa Command (AFRICOM), the airstrikes were conducted in Sokoto State, a region bordering Niger that has increasingly become a hotspot for extremist activity. The operation was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities, with early assessments indicating that multiple ISIS fighters were killed at remote terrorist camps.

A US defense official confirmed that the strikes included Tomahawk missiles launched from a US Navy vessel, underscoring the scale and precision of the attack. While an initial AFRICOM statement suggested the operation was carried out at Nigeria’s request, that message was later removed, prompting questions about the chain of authorization and diplomatic messaging.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump framed the strikes as a direct response to what he described as the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, warning extremist groups that continued attacks would bring swift consequences.

“Under my leadership, radical Islamic terrorism will not be allowed to prosper,” Trump wrote, adding that the US military executed “numerous perfect strikes.”

This rhetoric aligns with Trump’s long-standing focus on religious freedom in Nigeria, a theme that has resonated strongly among American conservatives. In recent months, Trump and his allies have argued that Nigerian Christians face existential threats, calling for stronger international intervention.

Nigerian officials were quick to emphasize that the fight against terrorism is not a religious war. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed that President Bola Tinubu approved the operation after consultations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“This is about protecting Nigerians — Christians, Muslims, and others alike,” Tuggar said, stressing that extremist violence affects communities across religious lines.

He also pointed to the broader West African terrorism crisis, particularly in the Sahel, which has seen the fastest growth of violent extremist activity on the African continent. Many of the victims of these attacks, Tuggar noted, are themselves Muslim.

While Trump referred broadly to ISIS, security analysts suggest the strikes may have targeted Lakurawa, a lesser-known but increasingly deadly militant group operating in northwestern Nigeria. The group was officially designated a terrorist organization earlier this year after a surge in attacks on villages and security forces.

Lakurawa and similar factions often operate from dense forest regions spanning state and national borders, making them difficult to neutralize without advanced intelligence and airpower — a factor that likely influenced Nigeria’s cooperation with the US military.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with over 230 million people, has struggled for years with layered security challenges. While Islamist extremism remains a major threat, experts note that violence is also driven by ethnic tensions, communal conflicts, and disputes between farmers and herders over scarce resources.

Both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered devastating losses, complicating narratives that frame the crisis along purely religious lines.

African security analyst Oluwole Oyewale warned that portraying the conflict as exclusively anti-Christian risks deepening existing divisions.

“Nigeria is already highly polarized,” he said. “Binary framing can inflame tensions and undermine long-term counterterrorism efforts.”

The strikes come amid renewed scrutiny of Trump’s foreign policy posture. While he has repeatedly described himself as a peacemaker and criticized prolonged US military engagements abroad, his return to power has included aggressive actions, from strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities to heightened military pressure in Latin America.

In Nigeria’s case, the operation signals that US counterterrorism priorities in Africa remain active, especially as extremist groups exploit weak governance and porous borders across the Sahel.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted that further actions could follow, stating that there was “more to come” while praising Nigeria’s cooperation. For now, both governments appear aligned on the immediate goal: degrading terrorist networks that threaten regional stability.

Whether the strikes will lead to lasting security improvements — or further controversy — remains to be seen.

What is clear is that Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, and America’s role in it, is far from over.