Joint US-Nigeria Counterterrorism Operations Shake Northwest Nigeria

The United States and Nigeria have conducted joint counterterrorism operations in 2025, including airstrikes and a ground mission that resulted in the killing of a senior Islamic State leader.

These operations have occurred amid a severe security crisis in Nigeria involving multiple armed groups. Separately, a large-scale attack in Kwara state resulted in over 160 deaths. The political discourse surrounding these events has included claims from former US President Donald Trump regarding the targeting of Christians in Nigeria, a narrative disputed by the Nigerian government and independent monitoring organizations.

Airstrikes in Sokoto State

On Christmas Day 2024, the United States military conducted airstrikes in Sokoto state, northwestern Nigeria. The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) stated the strikes were conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and killed "multiple ISIS terrorists."

Former President Donald Trump characterized the operation as a strike against "ISIS Terrorist Scum" whom he accused of killing Christians. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar described the operation as a "joint operation" targeting terrorists and stated it had "nothing to do with a particular religion." Tuggar confirmed the operation had the approval of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and involved the Nigerian armed forces.

"The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality." — President Bola Tinubu

Residents of Jabo village in Sokoto state reported seeing a bright red glow in the sky on the night of the strikes. Some residents reported no casualties, and security operatives later cordoned off the affected area.

Analysts suggested the strikes may have targeted the Lakurawa group, a militant entity operating in the northwestern region. Both the US and Nigerian governments have linked Lakurawa to Islamic State groups in the Sahel, though experts note that direct ties between Lakurawa and the Islamic State remain unproven. The Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), a known ISIS affiliate in Nigeria, primarily operates in the northeastern part of the country.

Killing of Islamic State Leader

In a subsequent joint operation, US and Nigerian forces killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki (also identified as Abu Bakr al-Mainuki), described by US officials as the second-in-command of the Islamic State (ISIS) globally. The operation occurred at al-Minuki's compound in the Lake Chad Basin.

US President Donald Trump announced the operation on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating it was conducted at his direction. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed the operation, stating that al-Minuki and several lieutenants were killed.

Key details from official sources:

• The Nigerian military task force spokesperson Sani Uba described the mission as a "highly complex precision air-land operation" conducted during three hours of darkness early Saturday, with no casualties or loss of assets.
• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that al-Minuki was the senior ISIS General Directorate of Provinces Emir.
• An official speaking on condition of anonymity stated that al-Minuki was viewed as a key figure in the Islamic State's organizing and finance and had been plotting attacks against the United States and its interests.

Background on al-Minuki

• Born in Nigeria's Borno province in 1982.
• Took leadership of the Islamic State branch in West Africa after the previous leader, Mamman Nur, was killed in 2018.
• Based in the Sahel, according to the Counter Extremism Project.
• Designated by the US State Department in 2023 as a senior official in the Islamic State's General Directorate of Provinces and added to the Treasury Department's specially designated global terrorist list.
• Analysts questioned Trump's characterization of al-Minuki as second-in-command of ISIS globally, noting he was deputy to Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the leader of ISWAP, who was reported dead in 2021.

Malik Samuel, a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa, stated that if confirmed, the killing of al-Minuki is significant as it is the first time a security agency has killed someone of such high rank in ISWAP, potentially causing chaos within the group.

Mass Casualty Attack in Kwara State

On a Tuesday in 2025, gunmen attacked Woro village in Kwara state, Nigeria, resulting in significant casualties. The Red Cross reported a death toll of 162 people from the attack on Woro and the neighboring village of Nuku, with searches for additional bodies continuing. This incident has been described as the deadliest attack in Nigeria for the year.

Timeline and details of the attack

• The attack began at approximately 5-6 pm local time.
• Gunmen opened fire and set shops, houses, and the king's palace on fire.
• The traditional chief of Woro, Umar Bio Salihu, stated that two of his sons were killed in front of his home, and his second wife along with three daughters were abducted.
• Salihu reported that the attack lasted until approximately 3 am. He survived by hiding and subsequently fled to Kaiama.
• The whereabouts of the traditional king, Alhaji Salihu Umar, remain unknown.
• According to Salihu, the jihadists had previously sent a letter announcing their intention to preach and initiated the violence when their presence was not acknowledged.

Government and security response

• Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the attack, describing it as a "cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells following the ongoing counterterrorism campaigns in parts of the state."
• Nigerian President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack and deployed an army battalion to the affected area.
• Police and the state government attributed the incident to "terrorist cells."
• The attack occurred after recent military operations in the area against what the military termed "terrorist elements." Reports last month indicated the army had "neutralized" 150 bandits in Kwara state and destroyed their hideouts.
• In response to security concerns, authorities in Kwara state had previously imposed curfews and closed schools for several weeks, with schools reopening on Monday prior to this attack.

Disputed Narratives on Religious Targeting

Claims of Christian Genocide

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that Christians in Nigeria are being killed in large numbers, describing the situation as an "existential threat" to the Christian population. Trump stated he had designated Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern" due to this issue and threatened to cut US aid and deploy the military.

Senator Ted Cruz stated on social media that since 2009, over 50,000 Christians have been massacred, and more than 18,000 churches and 2,000 Christian schools have been destroyed. Cruz's office clarified that he describes this as "persecution," not "genocide," and accused Nigerian officials of "ignoring and even facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists."

Nigerian Government Response

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has stated that religious tolerance exists within the country and that security challenges impact people "across faiths and regions." Following Trump's designation of Nigeria as a "Country of Particular Concern," President Tinubu affirmed his government's commitment to collaborating with the US and the international community to safeguard communities of all faiths.

"The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality." — President Bola Tinubu

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar described the US airstrikes as a "joint operation" targeting "terrorists," clarifying that it "has nothing to do with a particular religion."

An adviser to President Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, stated that while Nigeria would welcome US assistance against Islamist insurgents, it remains a "sovereign" country, and that jihadists do not target members of a specific religion, having killed individuals from all faiths.

Data from Independent Monitoring Organizations

Independent organizations monitoring violence in Nigeria have presented data that differs significantly from the claims made by some US politicians.

• ACLED data reports approximately 53,000 civilians, including both Muslims and Christians, killed in targeted political violence since 2009.
• From 2020 to September 2025, ACLED recorded about 21,000 civilian deaths from abductions, attacks, sexual violence, and explosives.
• During the same period, ACLED identified 384 incidents where Christians were specifically targeted, resulting in 317 deaths.
• ACLED reports no evidence indicating that Christians are killed more frequently than Muslims. Its analysis indicates that most victims of jihadist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in north-eastern Nigeria have been Muslims.
• ACLED collects data from traditional media, verified social media reports, human rights groups, and local partners.

• A 2023 report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety) claimed that jihadist groups in Nigeria had killed over 100,000 Christians between 2009 and 2025.
• The report also stated that 60,000 "moderate Muslims" died during the same period.
• InterSociety did not provide an itemized list of sources to verify its total death counts. The organization stated that reproducing all past reports and references is "almost impossible."
• For the period between January and August 2025, InterSociety reported over 7,000 Christian deaths, citing 70 media reports as sources. A BBC analysis of these sources found that approximately half of the original news stories did not specify the religious identity of the victims. The BBC's aggregation of deaths from the 70 reports totaled approximately 3,000 deaths, not 7,000.
• InterSociety identifies Islamist militant groups like Boko Haram and Fulani herders as perpetrators, describing the Fulani herders as "jihadists." Many researchers argue that these clashes are primarily related to competition over land and water resources, not religion. Security analyst Christian Ani stated that classifying Fulani herders as jihadists is a "far stretch," suggesting the conflicts are driven by "rogue and criminal elements."

• President Trump cited a figure of 3,100 Christians killed in Nigeria, referencing an Open Doors report for the 12 months starting October 2023.
• Open Doors is a charity that researches Christian persecution globally.
• Its report indicated that 3,100 Christians and 2,320 Muslims were killed during that 12-month period.
• Open Doors categorizes "Fulani Terror Groups" as perpetrators, attributing almost a third of Christian deaths during that time to them.
• Frans Veerman, a senior research fellow at Open Doors, observed that while Christians continue to be targeted, "increasingly some Muslims are targeted by Fulani militants."

Broader Security Context

Nigeria, with a population exceeding 230 million, is roughly divided between Christians, predominantly in the south, and Muslims, mainly in the north. The country faces multiple security challenges:

• Northeastern Insurgency: An Islamist insurgency involving Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has been active for over 15 years, primarily concentrated in the predominantly Muslim north-east. Both groups have killed thousands, with most victims being Muslims according to ACLED.

• Northwestern Banditry: Armed gangs referred to as "bandits," involved in kidnapping and looting, are active in the north-west and north-central regions.

• Central Nigeria Clashes: Frequent clashes occur between mostly Muslim herders and farming groups, often Christian, over access to water and pasture. These conflicts involve deadly cycles of reciprocal attacks, resulting in thousands of casualties. Human rights groups state there is no evidence that Christians have been disproportionately targeted in these clashes.

• Lakurawa Group: A relatively recent entity in Nigeria's security landscape, officially recognized by the Nigerian government last year. Security researchers document its composition as primarily foreign fighters from the Sahel region.

• Other Security Issues: The nation also contends with criminal kidnapping, land disputes, and separatist movements.