The United States has conducted forceful and lethal airstrikes against Nigerian militants in a significant escalation following violent assaults on Christians. President Donald Trump denounced the group as “terrorist scum” for their attacks on Christians and confirmed authorizing multiple precise strikes.
The attacks on Christmas Day targeted Islamic State fighters in northwestern Nigeria as local troops struggled to contain the growing terror threat. President Donald Trump pointed out that ISIS factions had been specifically targeting and ruthlessly killing innocent Christians.
Security analysts and residents have highlighted Nigeria’s security crisis affecting both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, the majority in the north. The U.S. strikes were part of collaborative intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between the two countries.
The full extent and repercussions of the recent attacks remain unclear, with expectations of further assaults on ISIS in Nigeria. America’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned on social media that there is “More to come…”
Various armed groups in Africa’s most populous nation include at least two linked to the Islamic State – Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the northeast, an offshoot of Boko Haram, and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) known locally as Lakurawa, prominent in the northwest.
Although specific details on the targeted group were not disclosed, security experts suggest that if aimed at Islamic State militants, it likely focused on members of Lakurawa. This faction has intensified its activities in border regions like Sokoto and Kebbi, often attacking remote communities and security forces.
The Nigerian military previously mentioned that Lakurawa has origins in neighboring Niger and escalated its presence in Nigeria’s border areas following a 2023 military coup, straining relations between the two countries and impacting joint military efforts along the porous border.
Observers note that Lakurawa has been active in northwest Nigeria since around 2017, initially invited by traditional leaders in Sokoto to provide protection against bandit groups but eventually becoming oppressive and clashing with local communities over a strict interpretation of sharia law.
According to analysts, the security challenges in Nigeria stem more from governance issues than purely military concerns. The absence of state authority in conflict zones facilitates the recruitment and influence of non-state actors, with poverty and lack of opportunities exacerbating the situation.
Nigeria’s Minister of Defense Christopher Musa emphasized the need for good governance, stating that military actions alone are insufficient to address the country’s security crisis. The recent U.S. airstrikes were perceived as crucial support for Nigeria’s overwhelmed security forces battling multiple crises across different regions.
While the military conducts airstrikes and recruitment drives, analysts point out that sustained operations against militant groups are lacking, allowing them to evade capture by swiftly moving on motorcycles through expansive forests that connect various northern states.
Militants often deploy hostages, including schoolchildren, as shields, complicating airstrike efforts.