US Strikes Islamic State Targets in Nigeria, Claiming ‘Christmas Present’ Victory

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, Jan. 2, 2025, 9 p.m. — In a bold move during the holiday season, the U.S. launched deadly airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwestern Nigeria, claiming to decimate terror camps near the Niger border.

President Trump, in a statement to Politico, boasted that the strikes on Dec. 25 were "a Christmas present," a stark contrast to Nigerian officials who insisted the operation was a planned, joint effort with no relation to the holiday.

The US military targeted jihadist camps in Sokoto state, with initial reports suggesting multiple casualties. Local sources describe fighters fleeing the area amid the explosions, but casualty figures remain unconfirmed. The Nigerian government stressed that the operation was coordinated with their forces and emphasized that it had "nothing to do with religion."

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that the strikes were based on intelligence shared by Nigeria and that more operations could follow. "This is a joint effort, and we are committed to rooting out these extremists," he said.

The militant group, known locally as Lakurawa, has been trying to establish a foothold in Nigeria’s northwest, with links to jihadist networks in Mali and Niger. Residents of border communities say the group has recruited young men and imposed strict controls, raising fears of broader instability.

In the aftermath, debris from the munitions fell in villages far from the target zones, including Jabo and Offa, with no civilian casualties reported so far. Eyewitnesses describe seeing fighters fleeing, but the true toll remains unclear.

Meanwhile, critics accuse the U.S. of exploiting the holiday to bolster military campaigns, with some claiming the strikes are an extension of America’s broader fight against Islamic terrorism. The fight has already claimed thousands of lives in Nigeria, mostly Muslims, and has destabilized the region for over a decade.

Trump’s comments come amid rising tensions over religious freedoms and the US’s previous designation of Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" over alleged persecution of Christians, which is a claim Nigeria’s government dismisses as unfounded.

Rob Redding is the author of the forthcoming book Black Power in the Age of Artificial Supremacy Featuring Redding-Shim Kwet Yung out on Jan. 5, 2026. He is the bestselling author of 17 books. He is the host of Redding News Review Unrestricted and creator of ReddingNewsReview.com. He is also an emerging visual artist who lives and teaches at two colleges in New York City.