The Federal Government has confirmed ongoing security and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States following airstrikes that struck terrorist targets in the North-West.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigerian authorities remain engaged in “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” aimed at tackling terrorism and violent extremism.
The statement, signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the collaboration led to “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” adding that the cooperation involves intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and other forms of support conducted in line with international law and with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity,” the ministry said.
It stressed that terrorist violence, “whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
The clarification followed comments by United States President Donald Trump, who said on Thursday that US forces had carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State fighters in north-western Nigeria.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added that further action would follow if the attacks continued, declaring: “If they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
In a separate post, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes were carried out with Nigeria’s cooperation, expressing gratitude for the support of the Nigerian government and noting that the US Department of War was “always ready.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria would continue to work with its partners through established diplomatic and security channels to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats.
The airstrikes came a day after a bomb attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, killed five people and injured dozens in an incident authorities suspect was a suicide bombing.
The ministry said it would continue to keep the public informed through appropriate official channels.
