Nigeria has officially confirmed that United States forces carried out airstrikes on terrorist locations in the country’s North West, following an announcement by US President Donald Trump that American troops had targeted Islamic State militants.
In a statement released early Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the action was part of ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and its international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
“Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” the ministry stated.
“This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes,” it added.
The confirmation came hours after Trump revealed that US forces had launched what he described as decisive military action against ISIS elements operating in Nigeria, marking the first known US strike in the country under his administration.
According to the Nigerian government, the operation was carried out within the framework of long-standing bilateral security arrangements. The Foreign Ministry explained that cooperation with the United States includes intelligence sharing, strategic coordination, and other forms of assistance that comply with international law and respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The ministry stressed that all counter-terrorism actions undertaken by Nigeria and its partners are guided by the need to protect civilians and preserve national unity.
It emphasised that terrorist violence, regardless of who is targeted, undermines Nigeria’s core values and poses a broader threat to international peace and security. The government rejected any attempt to frame insecurity in purely religious terms, noting that extremist attacks affect Nigerians of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
The statement further noted that the Federal Government remains focused on dismantling terrorist networks by disrupting their funding, logistics, and cross-border movements. It said Nigeria is also working to strengthen its domestic security institutions and intelligence capabilities to reduce dependence on external interventions over time.
Officials described the US-Nigeria partnership as part of a wider regional and global effort to confront extremist groups whose activities threaten stability in West Africa.
The Foreign Ministry assured Nigerians that engagement with international partners would continue through established diplomatic and security channels, adding that the public would be updated through official communications as necessary.
The confirmation of the airstrikes comes amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly in the North West, where terrorist groups and armed bandits have intensified attacks on rural communities in recent years.
While details of the operation remain limited, the government’s acknowledgement underscores the depth of security cooperation between Abuja and Washington as Nigeria seeks to contain the evolving threat posed by extremist groups operating within and beyond its borders.
