The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially confirmed that the United States carried out targeted airstrikes against terrorist enclaves within the country, following an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a statement issued in the early hours of Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the strikes were the outcome of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and its international partners, particularly the United States, aimed at combating terrorism and violent extremism.
The ministry explained that the operation involved carefully planned aerial attacks on identified terrorist locations in Nigeria’s North-West region.
According to the government, the strikes were conducted as part of intelligence-driven efforts to weaken extremist groups operating within the country.
President Trump had earlier disclosed the military action on his Truth Social platform, stating that U.S. forces had carried out operations against Islamic State (IS) militants in Nigeria.
Nigerian authorities later corroborated the development, emphasizing that the action was not unilateral but the result of coordinated engagement between both countries.
The Foreign Ministry noted that Nigeria and the United States maintain a long-standing security partnership that includes intelligence sharing, strategic coordination, and other forms of support consistent with international law and respect for national sovereignty.
It stressed that such cooperation is guided by mutual commitments to regional stability and global security.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s position, the government said all counter-terrorism operations prioritize the protection of civilians and the preservation of national unity.
It condemned terrorist violence in all its forms, describing attacks against any religious or ethnic group as a direct assault on Nigeria’s core values and a threat to international peace.
The statement further disclosed that the Federal Government remains committed to dismantling terrorist networks by disrupting their funding channels, logistics, and cross-border movements.
Authorities said these efforts are being pursued alongside measures to strengthen Nigeria’s own security institutions and intelligence capacity.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured citizens that it would continue to engage relevant international partners through established diplomatic and security channels and would keep the public informed through official updates.
The confirmation marks a significant development in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, highlighting the increasing role of international collaboration in addressing persistent security challenges across the country.
