The US has launched 'powerful and deadly' strikes against militants linked to the Islamic State group (IS) in northwestern Nigeria, where militants have sought to establish a foothold, President Donald Trump stated.
Trump told Politico he ordered the strikes on December 25 as 'a Christmas present,' contradicting a statement by Nigerian officials.
Targeted were camps run by the group in Sokoto state near the border with Niger, with unclear casualty numbers reported, but both US and Nigerian officials have indicated that militants were killed.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar clarified that the strikes were a 'joint operation' planned in advance and had 'nothing to do with a particular religion.'
He stated the strikes were executed using intelligence provided by Nigeria and did not rule out further military actions. Tuggar stressed that the timing of the strikes was unrelated to Christmas.
Trump, however, indicated otherwise, saying, 'They were going to do it earlier, and I said, 'nope, let's give a Christmas present.' He added that every camp targeted was 'decimated.'
Casualty reports from the strikes suggest multiple fatalities, with a local official in the area confirming that Lakurawa terrorist camps were hit. However, specific numbers remain unverified.
The US military said an 'initial assessment' indicated significant deaths. Reports from Nigerian border patrols noted sightings of Lakurawa fighters fleeing the impacted areas.
While Nigeria continues to battle various jihadist factions, a new group, Lakurawa, has emerged in the northern region, posing additional security challenges.
The Nigerian government has indicated that the operations had been conducted with full support and involvement from the armed forces.
In a statement released afterward, Nigeria's information ministry confirmed the strikes' precision and noted that debris from the munitions affected communities within Sokoto state and further south in Kwara state. Luckily, no civilian casualties have been reported.
