The Nigerian Government Confirms It Provided Key Information for Christmas Day Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for attacking Christian communities.

Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the American airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US official has signaled further strikes are likely.

This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.