WASHINGTON — For years, armed jihadists in camouflage and turbans have terrorized Sokoto’s border villages, raiding for livestock, banning music under threat of lashings, and spreading dread among the Christians and moderate Muslims living there. Thanks to the Trump administration, Christmas Day brought a sudden reversal as massive explosions rocked remote strongholds of Lakurawa militants. Civilian homes miles away trembled from the blast, but it was the militants who bolted in panic, fleeing toward Niger. According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists were packed three to a motorbike and engulfed in fear, screaming frantic instructions to one another as they fled the devastation.
The precision airstrikes demonstrate the Trump administration’s unwavering resolve to follow through on protecting innocent lives abroad from ISIS. But was this an isolated American intervention, or the harbinger of a broader effort to uproot jihadist control across parts of West Africa?
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signaled this is no isolated action, posting gratitude to Nigerian partners while hinting at additional action. In an exclusive RedState interview, Ricky Buria, his chief of staff, explained the administration’s mindset: “When President Trump says stop attacking Christians, he means it,” said Buria.
The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.
The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…
Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.
Merry Christmas! https://t.co/k5Q3Qd4ClE
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 25, 2025
READ MORE: Breaking: Trump Announces Deadly Strike vs. ‘ISIS Terrorist Scum’ in Nigeria
Leading up to the strikes, President Trump had repeatedly discussed the perils facing Nigerian Christians. On Truth Social, he described the operation as “a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been accused of targeting and killing primarily innocent Christians.” He added a pointed holiday flourish: “Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists.” Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from a U.S. Navy vessel in the Gulf of Guinea, hitting multiple terrorist encampments. No civilian casualties have been reported.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which oversaw the operation, confirmed it was executed “at the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with Nigerian authorities.” In its official statement, AFRICOM noted: “The command’s initial assessment is that multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in the ISIS camps.” A spokesperson elaborated that “U.S. Africa Command is working with Nigerian authorities to counter terrorist threats in the region,” emphasizing the joint nature of the intelligence-sharing that enabled the precision strikes. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar echoed this, calling it a “joint operation” aimed at terrorists.
Voices like Fr. Moses Aondover Iorapuu, vicar general pastoral of the Diocese of Makurdi and a prominent Nigerian Catholic leader, have applauded the intervention. “Without U.S. support, Nigeria stands no chance against the jihadists,” Fr. Iorapuu stated.
The targeted group, Lakurawa, operates as an offshoot of ISIS in the Sahel desert, which spans multiple West African nations. Heavily armed and mobile on motorbikes, the militants patrol villages daily, demanding forced taxes from residents, who face livestock raids and savage attacks if they refuse compliance. They enforce strict bans on “immoral” activities like playing music on phones, confiscating devices and bruising offenders, while stealing cattle from non-compliant farmers. Their recruitment of local youth as informants adds an element of psychological carnage. This thuggish control has turned remote communities into zones of constant fear and lost freedom as the local government in Sokoto lacks the resources to combat the situation.
Stifling jihadist terror in Africa is not merely a regional concern; it carries profound implications for global security and American interests. As unchecked ISIS affiliates fuel the migration crises toward the west, and their aggression inspires attacks worldwide, such chaos eventually makes its way to American shores. This operation reflects a shift toward proactive defense under Trump 2.0, contrasting with the perceived hesitancy of the Biden administration to confront Islamic terrorism abroad to save innocent lives. Given this assessment, it’s hard not to see the Christmas Day operation as a starting point. The jihadist militants who scattered in panic on motorbikes will almost certainly regroup and return without sustained follow-up.
“We get continuous updates from our AFRICOM commander, so we know how to best employ our forces to reduce the violence against Christians,” Buria said. He added, “You can rest assured the admin, AFRICOM commander, is doing everything possible.” Between Buria’s assurance of commitment and Hegseth’s vow of “more to come,” the message is clear: More strikes are on the horizon to degrade Lakurawa and similar threats until the violence ends.
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