Yusuf Maitama Tugger, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
Nigeria’s Ministry of foreign affairs, has confirmed that the Federal Government gave the nod for the United States’ December 25, 2025 (Christmas day) airstrikes that hit terrorist targets in North West Nigeria, with Sokoto state mentioned as the immediate target of the operation.
This affirmation which was contained in a statement issued early Friday, December 26, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, further revealed that the operation was in line with ongoing security and intelligence cooperation between Nigeria and the United States following the earlier “Country of Particular Concern” designation of Nigeria by the US and the “go in guns ablazing” warning of President Trump.
The ministry said the collaboration, which led to precision airstrikes on terrorist targets, involved intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and other forms of support in line with international law, respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and shared security commitments, adding that terrorist violence, “whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
According to the statement, “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 statement said.
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