Details surrounding US military strikes in Nigeria on Christmas Day remain unclear and "sketchy," according to a senior adviser to the country's president, despite claims from former US President Donald Trump that Islamic State militants were targeted.
Conflicting Accounts of Christmas Day Operations
The United States, acting in cooperation with the Nigerian government, conducted a series of airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria on 25 December 2025. The operations, announced by Donald Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform, were described as "powerful and deadly strikes" aimed at "ISIS terrorist scum."
However, Bola Tinubu, a special adviser to the Nigerian president based in Abuja, provided a more ambiguous account to Sky News. He stated that precise information regarding who was actually hit in the Washington-ordered strikes was lacking. "Details were 'sketchy'," Mr Tinubu said, expressing hope that more information would become available in the coming hours and days.
He suggested the strikes could have targeted members of Lakurawa, Boko Haram, or the Islamic State and its affiliated groups. Mr Tinubu also emphasised his hope that security cooperation between Nigeria and the US would continue despite the uncertainty.
Political Context and Claims of Persecution
The military action followed months of persistent assertions from the Trump White House alleging that Christians were being persecuted and attacked in Nigeria. While it is true that Christian communities have suffered violence in a nation challenged by multiple armed groups, data indicates that attacks on Muslim communities have been reported at a similar rate.
An analysis of attacks on religious sites over the past year reveals that more incidents were reported at mosques than at churches, a shift from the pattern before 2025. Sources, including the Nigerian president's adviser, suggested to Sky News that Mr Trump's focus on Christian persecution may have been aimed more at galvanising his domestic support base than reflecting the complex on-ground realities.
Local Impact and Eyewitness Accounts
On the ground, the strikes caused significant alarm among local residents. Confirmed attacks took place in Jabo, in the Sokoto region, and in Offa, in the Kwara region.
In Jabo, 17-year-old Balira Sa'idu said the attack had upended his life. "I am supposed to be thinking about my wedding, but right now I am panicking. The strike has changed everything. My family is afraid, and I don't even know if it is safe to continue with the wedding plan in Jabo," he told Sky News.
Sanusi Madabo, a 40-year-old farmer from the same village, described hearing a loud noise resembling a plane crash while preparing for bed. He and his wife rushed outside to see the sky glowing red from a fire that burned so brightly it was "almost like daytime" for hours. He only later learned he had witnessed the US attack on an alleged IS camp.
Following the Christmas Day announcement, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at further action in a social media post stating simply: "More to come..."
