Nigeria announced that it worked together with the United States to attack “terrorist targets” in the northwest of the country this Thursday (25), following the announcement made by American President Donald Trump.
“Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, to address persistent violent extremism,” the statement said.
“This led to precision strikes against terrorist targets in Nigeria through airstrikes in the North West.”
Special Advisor to the Nigerian President, Daniel Bwala, told CNN that the country is aligned with the US: “The US and Nigeria are on the same page in the fight against terrorism,” said Bwala. He added that a more detailed statement will be released later.
Nigeria also condemned terrorist violence against Christians, Muslims and other communities.
The American president had said in a social media post that the attack targeted Islamic State terrorists, who he accused of persecuting Christians in Nigeria.
“Tonight, on my orders as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly attack against ISIS terrorist scum in northwestern Nigeria, who are targeting and brutally murdering primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen in many years, even centuries!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“I had already warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the massacre of Christians, they would suffer the consequences, and tonight, they came,” he continued. “The War Department carried out countless perfect attacks, as only the United States can do.”
Experts say both Christians and Muslims – the two main religious groups in the country of more than 230 million people – have been victims of attacks by radical Islamists.
The ministry added that the Nigerian government is working closely with partners to combat terrorism, “while also strengthening Nigeria’s own security institutions and intelligence capabilities.”
