*President Trump and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
The US launched airstrikes against on Sokoto State on Christmas Day, saying it struck Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) terrorists bases. The bombing followed US President Donald Trump promise to bomb the militants he said are “viciously killing” Christians.
In a statement on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said that the US attack was aimed at “ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay… Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists,” he added.
The strikes, which targeted militants in Sokoto State, were carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities, US Africa Command said.
The Federal Government, in a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry affirmed that the operation was a result of collaboration between the two nations.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for its “support and cooperation,” promising “more [attacks] to come.” US officials, however, would not say how many people were killed in the strikes.
Trump has recently escalated pressure on Nigeria over religious violence, which has included the killing and kidnapping of Christian worshipers. In November, he threatened to go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the government failed to stop the “slaughter” of Christians.
Washington has also imposed visa restrictions targeting those allegedly involved in religious freedom violations and designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” for religious persecution.
Interestingly, Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu sent a message to Nigerians Christmas Day urging government to do more to protect Christians.
Netanyahu, who is facing trial for alleged genocide against Palestinians at the ICC, portrayed himself as a defender of Christian rights in his message to Nigerians.
However some Nigerians have questioned the choice of Sokoto as the site for the US action.
Saddam Ibrahim, a public analyst was one of several Nigerians who expressed wonder at why the US chose Sokoto as the place to bomb, especially as it is known that ISIS and Boko Haram operate primarily in the North-East.
He said:
There is no ISIS presence in Sokoto, where the U.S. reportedly launched the strike.
There has been no credible intelligence report confirming any casualties, nor has any terrorist organization issued a statement acknowledging losses.
On what intelligence basis would Trump target a farm, drop bombs, and then declare a counter-terrorism victory?
Christians constitute less than 5% of Sokoto State’s population, and there is no verified report of Christians facing persecution there. Why, despite counter-narratives supported by data and evidence, does the U.S. government continue to push the “Christian genocide” hoax?
At this point, even Nigerian security experts are confused by how the U.S is politicizing Nigeria’s security situation.
Why did the attack occur a day after Netanyahu(the world butcher of Christians) spoke about Nigeria using the same false Christian-genocide narrative, a day after a mosque was bombed and Muslims were killed, and two days after Christian militias in Jos abducted travelers and killed others?
Any sincere, intelligence-driven and coordinated effort between Nigeria and the U.S to neutralize bandits in the North-West, Christian militias in the North-Central, IPOB and other violent groups in the South-East as well as ISIS, ISWAP and Boko Haram in the North-East, would be a welcome development for Nigeria’s stability.
However, any form of geopolitical maneuvering or narrative manipulation by the U.S that deepens internal divisions must be called out accordingly.
What is Trump trying to achieve by bombing a farm and claiming victory over ISIS? Trying to wrap my head around this.
