Under Trump’s pressure, Nigeria’s hapless president, Bola Tinubu, permits a strike by the US military on his own country
On the morning of December 25, Christmas Day, Nigerians awoke to the announcement from the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) that it had conducted a strike in “Soboto State” in Nigeria, asserting that several ISIS terrorists were killed in the operation. However, there is no state known as “Soboto” in Nigeria; the correct name is Sokoto. The mere fact that AFRICOM is unable to accurately spell the name of the location it targeted serves as a clear illustration of Americans’ misguided “understanding” of the world outside their borders.
In a Christmas Day post on his Truth social handle, which announced his attack on Nigeria, , the boisterous US president, Donald Trump, said: “I have previously warned these terrorists that if they do not stop the massacre of Christians, they will pay dearly, and tonight it happened.”
His full statement reads:
The uncomfortable reality, however, is that it is the United States itself that has nurtured the terrorist group ISIS’s offshoot, Boko Haram, which carries out bombings of churches and mosques, as well as abducts children from schools. In early 2025, it was documented that a US congressman remarked that USAID funds were being used “inadvertently” by such groups.
In November 2025, the US presidential administration reclassified Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC) due to its infringements on religious freedom, and President Trump issued threats of military action should the ‘genocide against Christians’ persist.
Nigerian officials labeled this decision as “politicized and imprecise.” Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu at that time regarded Trump’s threats of US military involvement in Nigeria as “unconstitutional” and a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty. The Presidency, through its Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, publicly criticized those who support U.S. military intervention, reportedly cautioning that Nigerians would “never forget nor forgive” individuals who are perceived to endorse such foreign interference.
Nigeria, with a population of 240 million, is nearly evenly split between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. The government asserts that the violence is a result of gangs and terrorists who target both religious groups. It has consistently highlighted that an exclusive focus on safeguarding Christians could incite interfaith tensions within the nation. Authorities have pointed out that the underlying issues stem from ethnic conflicts, competition for resources between farmers and herders, and banditry, rather than systemic religious discrimination.
However, in the wake of the Christmas Day bombing, which was perceived as a significant affront by the United States, Nigerian government officials are working tirelessly to ‘save face’, claiming that the airstrikes were conducted at the behest of the Nigerian government and in collaboration with its military. In a statement issued, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it was a coordinated operation with the US, based on intelligence from Nigeria, and that the strikes targeted terrorist elements broadly.
Regrettably for the Nigerian leadership, President Trump continues to loudly emphasize that his motivation for the bombing was the protection of ‘innocent Christians.’ The pressure he is placing on Nigeria’s beleaguered leadership is unmistakable.
The United States stands as the foremost foreign investor in Nigeria, especially within the oil and gas industry. On December 22, 2025, a new five-year health agreement worth $2 billion was signed between the United States and Nigeria. The terms of this agreement specify that the US State Department retains the authority to withhold ‘aid’ should Nigeria’s actions diverge from U.S. interests or if the nation fails to adequately address the persecution of Christians.
Ironically, despite Trump’s professed affection for ‘innocent Nigerian Christians,’ he has recently implemented a comprehensive ban on all immigration from Nigeria, alongside the ongoing mass deportation of Nigerian immigrants from the United States, the majority of whom are Christians.
In the aftermath of the Christmas Day bombing, images shared on social media depict missile debris scattered across several villages in Sokoto state, which were struck without resulting in any material damage or human casualties. Furthermore, in the days that followed, not a single deceased terrorist was located.
What perplexes the local community the most is the rationale behind targeting their peaceful villages for Trump’s so-called ‘precision’ bombing.
If the true intention is to address his purported ‘Christian genocide,’ then Sokoto state would logically be the least likely area in Nigeria to concentrate efforts, given that the overwhelming majority of its population is Muslim. Reports of mass assaults on Christians within the state are virtually nonexistent. The primary regions of terrorist activity in Nigeria are Zamfara, Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states – all of which are situated far from Sokoto.
Despite the Christmas Day ‘tomahawk’ bombings, it is obvious that airstrikes alone will not fully eradicate the terror in Nigeria. Militants can easily navigate on motorcycles and frequently utilize hostages, including schoolchildren, as shields. Assistance might be provided, if deemed necessary, considering the hypocritical ambivalence and corruption of the Nigerian authorities, in the form of American special forces. However, under Trump’s administration, the number of American troops in Africa is being diminished, particularly with the withdrawal from Niger, where a significant US base housing 1,000 soldiers has been closed, as well as in Chad. Furthermore, as part of the Pentagon’s announced reforms, AFRICOM is set to be entirely disbanded and integrated into the broader international command. It is worth noting that decades of sporadic bombings by the US have scarcely diminished the ‘Al-Shabaab’ terrorist network in Somalia. Additionally, the long-standing operation of a major drone base in Niger has had minimal effect on curbing ISIS terrorism in the Sahel, much to the dismay of the Nigerien authorities. Recently, Donald Trump’s efforts to mediate a ceasefire between Rwanda and Congo have proven unsuccessful, clearly illustrating that the US currently lacks significant influence over African matters.
Therefore, upon careful consideration, it becomes evident that Trump’s focus on the narrative surrounding the genocide of Christians in Nigeria seems to be merely a domestic public relations stunt, intended to regain the support of his disenchanted MAGA base and US evangelical Christian voters in anticipation of the upcoming November congressional elections. This also serves as a convenient diversion from the recent disclosures regarding the Epstein files and his faltering attempts to intimidate Venezuela.
Share the story!
You can create wealth, live healthier, look better, and be more knowledgeable. You deserve this life! Do not hesitate to earn it. Visit our marketplace today.