Nigeria says it shared intelligence to support US strikes on ISIS

Nigeria said it shared intelligence pinch nan U.S. up of Christmas nighttime airstrikes connected ISIS targets successful nan country.

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed connected Friday that it was "engaged successful system information cooperation" pinch different nations, including nan U.S., adding that nan practice "led to precision hits connected violent targets." The ministry said that nan associated information efforts see nan sharing of intelligence and strategical coordination.

"Nigeria reiterates that each counter-terrorism efforts are guided by nan primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding nationalist unity, and upholding nan authorities and dignity of each citizens, irrespective of religion aliases ethnicity. Terrorist unit successful immoderate shape whether directed astatine Christians, Muslims, aliases different communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to world bid and security," nan ministry wrote successful a connection posted connected X.

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Members of St. Leo Catholic Church clasp a convoy to people Palm Sunday successful Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria, connected April 13, 2025. (Adekunle Ajayi/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump announced nan Christmas nighttime airstrikes successful northwest Nigeria, saying nan targets were ISIS militants who he accused of sidesplitting Christians. The president besides included a informing that further attacks would return spot if nan unit against Christians continued.

"Tonight, astatine my guidance arsenic Commander successful Chief, nan United States launched a powerful and deadly onslaught against ISIS Terrorist Scum successful Northwest Nigeria, who person been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, guiltless Christians, astatine levels not seen for galore years, and moreover Centuries!" Trump said Thursday connected Truth Social. 

"I person antecedently warned these Terrorists that if they did not extremity nan slaughtering of Christians, location would beryllium hellhole to pay, and tonight, location was. The Department of War executed galore cleanable strikes, arsenic only nan United States is tin of doing.

"Under my leadership, our Country will not let Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper," he continued. "May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including nan dormant Terrorists, of which location will beryllium galore much if their bulldoze of Christians continues."

A drone position of Christians departing St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church aft a Sunday wide successful Palmgrove, Lagos, Nigeria, Nov. 2, 2025. (Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters)

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In a connection to Fox News Digital, Christian charity, Open Doors said its sources successful Nigeria said, "the airstrikes person deed violent camps successful Jabo, a agrarian organization successful Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, pinch aggregate ISIS militants reportedly killed.

Jabo is simply a predominantly Fulani municipality successful Sokoto State and has been identified arsenic a haven for militants and a nexus to neighboring states for illustration Kebbi and Zamfara. To nan champion of our knowledge location is nary religion beingness successful Jabo.

Right now, location are fears of retaliation because of nan airstrike."

Open Doors is simply a world Christian kindness supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.

Gunmen prime up nan belongings near down by worshippers who ran for screen aft proceeding gunshots, arsenic they locomotion into a Church successful Eruku, Kwara state, Nigeria, November 18, 2025, successful this image obtained from societal media. (Social media/via Reuters)

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U.S. Ambassador to nan U.N. Mike Waltz, who has been outspoken astir nan unit against Christians successful Nigeria, praised nan strikes. The ambassador said nan precision strikes showed Christians successful Nigeria and astir nan world that Trump would "fight for them."

Last month, Trump threatened to "do things successful Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to beryllium happy about" and "go into that now disgraced state guns-a-blazing."

That informing group nan shape for nan Christmas-night strikes, which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said fulfilled nan president’s request that nan killings stop. Hegseth besides included successful a post connected X a reference to nan U.S.-Nigeria practice that led to nan strikes.

"The President was clear past month: nan sidesplitting of guiltless Christians successful Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end," Hegseth wrote connected X. "The [War Department] is ever ready, truthful ISIS recovered retired coming — connected Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian authorities support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!"

This photograph released by nan Christian Association of Nigeria shows nan dormitories of St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School aft gunmen abducted children and unit successful Papiri organization successful Nigeria, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Christian Association of Nigeria via AP)

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Christians and Christian institutions successful Nigeria person been nether onslaught successful caller months, prompting world outrage and drafting nan ire of nan Trump administration.

In November, equipped gunmen stormed nan Christ Apostolic Church, killed 2 group and kidnapped dozens. The 38 abducted worshipers were freed almost a week later.

The onslaught connected nan Christ Apostolic Church was preceded and followed by attacks connected Christian schools successful Nigeria.

In nan days earlier nan attack, gunmen kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding schoolhouse successful Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed astatine slightest 1 staffer. One of nan girls managed to flight connected nan aforesaid time arsenic nan kidnapping, while nan remaining 24 were rescued astir a week later, The Associated Press reported.

Days aft nan onslaught connected Christ Apostolic Church, equipped attackers raided nan Saint Mary's School and kidnapped much than 300 students and staff. School officials said 50 of nan students were capable to flight successful nan pursuing days, while 253 students and 12 teachers stay captive.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace and Paul Tilsley contributed to this report.