On Christmas Day, the United States carried out massive military attack on Islamic State fighters in Nigeria. President Donald Trump called the action “a fatal blow to the terrorist rabble.”
According to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which cooperates with the American authorities, these were: “precision air strikes against terrorist targets”. The US Department of Defense reported several terrorist deaths in the northwestern state of Sokoto.
On his Truth Social platform, President Trump cited his motive murder of Christians in Nigeria. However, the intervention in Africa's most populous country – approximately 236 million people live there – has a much broader scope.
Islamists have an iron grip on the country
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, is under enormous pressure. Islamic groups in this West African country regularly carry out brutal attacks on civiliansespecially in the north, where Islam dominates.
The terrorist organization Boko Haram rejects Western education, especially for girls. In turn, the local “branch” of the Islamic State – the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) – attacks primarily state structures, and even introduces its own taxes in the Lake Chad region.
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Their goal is to establish a Muslim religious state under Sharia law. These are medieval religious rules with brutal punishments (e.g. the death penalty for homosexuality).
Donald Trump will do almost anything to make Christian voters happy
What could have prompted Trump to intervene? Opinion-forming Christian institutions in the US have repeatedly drawn attention to the plight of Christians in Nigeria. As did evangelical pastor Robert Jeffress, who recently talked about it on a podcast with Senator Ted Cruz.
Moreover, in the presidential elections as much as 72 percent white evangelical Protestants supported Trump, which makes them one of his most loyal groups of voters. This means that Trump's military operation overseas also has political significance at home.
Islamists regularly attack Christians and moderate Muslims
Nigeria is indeed experiencing numerous attacks – against both Christians and moderate Muslims. These include mass kidnappings of children. The Nigerian authorities cannot deal with the attackers on their own.
Nigerian soldiers at the site of the mosque explosion. Maiduguri, December 25, 2025AUDU MARTE / AFP
The last such case occurred on Thursday. As a result of a suicide attack in a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State five Muslims were killed and 35 were injured, some of them seriously.
In June, armed attackers attacked a town in the southeastern state of Benue, killing over 100 people. Most of the victims were Christians. Pope Leo XIV condemned this attack in his speech.
Pope Leo XIV blesses the faithful. Vatican, December 26, 2025PAP/EPA/ANGELO CARCONI
The non-partisan US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reports in its analysis, among others: about Boko Haram fighters who murdered 14 people in Yobe state in 2024, including a local pastor of the Church of Christ in Nigeria.
The situation in Nigeria is further complicated by the fact that the country has recently been plunged into a deep economic crisis. Many people could barely afford basic goods, and poverty became widespread.
The result was sudden price increases and a sharp decline in the value of the currency. By the end of 2025, the Nigerian economy is slowly starting to recover — GDP is growing by about 3 percent, inflation is falling. Despite this, the purchasing power of residents remains low.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
