Nigeria comments on US airstrikes

According to officials in Abuja, the military operation in Sokoto state was conducted in line with international law

US airstrikes targeting Islamist terrorist organizations in northwestern Nigeria were conducted as part of “structured” security cooperation with Washington, the West African country’s government has confirmed. Abuja had previously rejected any unilateral military intervention on its soil.

In a statement on Friday, Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said the bilateral agreement includes intelligence sharing, strategic coordination, and “other forms of support” in line with international law and mutual respect for sovereignty.

US President Donald Trump announced a series of strikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) militants, including Boko Haram in Nigeria, on Christmas Day, following weeks of threats over Abuja’s alleged failure to address a “genocide” of Christians.

Trump did not specify the extent of the damage caused by the assaults in Sokoto state. US Africa Command confirmed the operations were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth promising “more [attacks] to come.”

READ MORE: Trump touts Christmas strikes on ‘ISIS scum’ (VIDEO)

Last month, Nigeria dismissed the Trump administration’s claims that Christians were being persecuted specifically, stating that the insecurity affects people of all faiths. The government also insisted that any external assistance aimed at addressing the crisis must respect the country’s sovereignty.

In an exclusive interview with RT on Friday, Daniel Bwala, spokesman for Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, said Abuja welcomes the recent US military strikes, since they were conducted jointly with the government.

“Our agreement with the United States… we do not need American troops on the ground. Nigerian soldiers are capable of dealing with the situation with the right equipment and the right intelligence,” he said, adding that the terms could be reviewed “if the need arises.”

Read more

Speaking to RT, Greg Simons, journalism professor at Daffodil International University, believes Trump’s military actions in Nigeria are aimed at preventing the rise of rival powers that could challenge US geopolitical dominance.

He argued that they may also be part of a “vanity project” for Trump, who is reportedly being considered for the Nobel Peace Prize.

“It’s the most compromised peace prize in history,” Simons said, pointing out that Trump has “started enough wars” to bolster his candidacy.