Trump’s Christmas Gift to Nigerian Christians: U.S. Airstrikes Target ISIS Terrorists Behind Church Killings | #NwokeukwuMascot

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The United States President Donald Trump has announced that the United States carried out airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night, targeting ISIS-linked militants he accused of orchestrating violent attacks against Christians.

In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said the strikes were launched at his direct order, describing the operation as “powerful and deadly” and warning that further action would follow if the killings continued.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist elements in Northwest Nigeria,” Trump wrote. He accused the militants of “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians” and said the attacks had reached levels “not seen for many years.”

Trump claimed he had previously warned the group to halt the violence or face severe consequences, adding that the U.S. military had now acted on that warning. He praised what he described as “numerous perfect strikes” executed by the Department of War, insisting that under his leadership, the United States would not allow radical Islamic terrorism to thrive.

The strikes followed comments Trump made last month in which he threatened strong action against Nigeria if the killings of Christians did not stop, remarks that drew international attention and criticism.

Confirming the operation, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the airstrikes fulfilled the president’s earlier warning. In a post on X, Hegseth stated that ISIS militants had “found out tonight on Christmas,” adding that more actions could follow. He also expressed appreciation for what he described as the cooperation and support of the Nigerian government.

The military action comes amid broader measures announced by the Trump administration in response to escalating violence against Christians in Nigeria. Nearly a month after the initial warning, the administration unveiled a new visa-restriction policy targeting individuals accused of planning or supporting religious violence.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the policy, implemented under the Immigration and Nationality Act, would allow the U.S. to deny visas to individuals found to have directed, authorized, supported, or carried out serious violations of religious freedom. In some cases, immediate family members could also face restrictions.

“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Rubio said in a statement.

The policy followed a series of high-profile attacks across Nigeria. In Kwara State, gunmen attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, killing two people and abducting dozens of worshippers. Although the abducted individuals were later released, the incident heightened concerns over religiously motivated violence. Days later, armed assailants raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting hundreds of students and staff. While some students reportedly escaped, many were still being held at the time of the announcement.

Citing these incidents, Trump designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over religious freedom violations, a classification the Nigerian government has disputed.

“I’m really angry about it,” Trump said in an interview last month, describing the situation in Nigeria as “a disgrace.”

Reiterating the administration’s stance, Rubio said earlier this month that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries,” signaling that Washington may continue to apply diplomatic, economic, and military pressure in response to the crisis.