The Nigerian Government Confirms It Supplied Key Information for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

The Nigerian government has stated that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.

Extensive Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one prominent activist on social media.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on combating militants, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional military actions are likely.

This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.