Trump Orders Christmas Day Airstrikes Against ISIS in Nigeria After Months Warning Government Over Christian Killings
President Donald Trump ordered Christmas Day airstrikes against Islamic State targets in northwestern Nigeria, declaring the strikes targeted ISIS terrorists who have been "viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries," fulfilling his November threat to take military action if Christian persecution continued.
Trump announced the strikes December 25 in a Truth Social post stating, "Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria." The President added, "I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was."
US Africa Command confirmed the strikes occurred in Sokoto State in coordination with Nigerian authorities, with initial assessment concluding that multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in ISIS camps. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated
"The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The Department of War is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight, on Christmas."
The strikes targeted ISIS affiliated groups in Nigeria's northwest, specifically IS Sahel Province locally known as Lakurawa. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed he spoke twice with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio before and after the strike, and that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved the operation after intelligence sharing and strategic coordination.
Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris stated the strikes were carried out in Bauni forest of Tangaza area against two major ISIS enclaves that were successfully neutralized. Trump later told Politico the strike was originally planned for December 24 but he delayed it one day "to give a Christmas present" to the terrorists.
The strikes followed months of escalating US pressure on Nigeria over violence against Christians. In November 2024, Trump ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria, stating "Could be" when asked about possibility of US troops on ground. The President claimed, "They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers, we're not going to allow that to happen."
The Trump administration implemented multiple punitive measures against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians. In October 2024, Trump added Nigeria to Countries of Particular Concern for severe violations of religious freedom. Nigeria was added to the US travel ban list with partial restrictions for Nigerian nationals.
The State Department announced visa restrictions for Nigerians involved in killing Christians.
Nigerian Catholic Church leaders gave mixed reactions to the strikes. Father Augustine Ikenna Anwuchie told OSV News the strike sends a strong message to Nigerian government which has adopted approaches including paying ransoms rather than decisive military action against terrorists targeting Christians.
Emeka Umeagbalasi, director of Catholic advocacy group Intersociety, stated that since 2009 at least 125,000 Christians have been killed by jihadist forces, with 19,100 churches burned and 1,100 Christian communities seized. Aid to the Church in Need reported that between 2015 and 2025, at least 212 Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria, making Nigeria one of the world's most dangerous countries for clergy.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Trump did what the Nigerian government refused to do. Protect Christians.
125,000 Christians killed since 2009. 19,100 churches burned. 1,100 Christian communities seized. 212 priests kidnapped in ten years.
And Nigeria's response? Dialogue. Negotiation. Paying ransoms to terrorists.
Trump said stop killing Christians or face consequences. Nigeria ignored him. ISIS ignored him.
So Trump launched missiles on Christmas Day.
The symbolism matters. While Christians celebrated Christ's birth, American firepower struck those who massacre believers. Trump called it a Christmas present to terrorists. Perfect.
Nigerian government officials complained about the religious framing. They want everyone to pretend this isn't about faith. It is.
ISIS doesn't attack random villages. They attack Christian communities. They burn churches, not mosques in their territory. They kidnap priests, not imams.
Trump recognized reality. Nigerian Christians are being exterminated. Their government won't defend them. So America did.
This is what Christian persecution demands. Not statements. Not prayers alone. Action.
More strikes coming, Hegseth promised. Good.
TAKE ACTION
Support Persecuted Nigerian Christians: International Christian Concern Website: https://www.persecution.org/countries/nigeria Phone: +1 (800) 422-5441 Email: icc@persecution.org
Aid Kidnapped Clergy Families: Aid to the Church in Need Website: https://www.churchinneed.org Email: info@acn-intl.org
Pressure for Continued Military Action: White House Comment Line: +1 (202) 456-1111 Message: "Thank you for striking ISIS in Nigeria. Continue protecting Christians. Don't stop until the persecution ends."
Support Conversation: Tell people: "Trump struck ISIS on Christmas Day to protect Nigerian Christians after 125,000 believers were killed since 2009. When will other Western leaders defend persecuted Christians with action instead of just words?"
