Trump Says U.S. Strikes in Nigeria Saved Christian Population, Vows Sustained Offensive Against Terrorists

By Zagazola Makama

United States President Donald Trump has said that recently authorised U.S. missile strikes targeting ISIS/ISWAP elements in northern Nigeria helped save thousands of Christians from terrorist attacks and significantly weakened the extremist group.

Trump made the remarks on Friday during an event in Washington, where he defended his administration’s military operations against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria.

“As you know, we recently struck Nigeria and largely ended the slaughter of great Christian populations,” Trump said.

“They have a great Christian population. They were being butchered—thousands and thousands of people were being killed, children, women, old people, just being slaughtered, hacked to death.”

The U.S. president said the strikes had sent a strong message to terrorist groups and deterred further attacks.

“They know that if they go further, the attack will be far greater and that they don’t want to really get involved anymore so much,” he said.

“You know, we hit them very hard. We knocked out their leader. We knocked out their second leader and their third leader.”

Trump compared the operation in Nigeria to recent U.S. military action against Iran, saying both reflected Washington’s commitment to confronting threats before they escalate.

“It sounds a little bit like Iran, actually. It’s all about a different cause that we have to do because we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let it happen,” he said.

He also said his administration remained committed to protecting Christians and other vulnerable populations from extremist violence around the world.

“So I’m saving Christians throughout the world, even though we are not in those various countries where you read about this,” he said.

Trump further warned that the United States would continue to pursue terrorist groups wherever they operate.

“But I’m saving them by hitting these terrorists very violently and very hard. We’re hitting them very hard by the greatest weapons on earth, taking them out.

“We know where they are. We hunt them down, and we take them out. They go into a village and they just kill everybody; it’s like crazy,” he added.

The U.S. president also warned against what he described as threats to religious freedom, saying extremists sought to undermine religious institutions and democratic values.

In December 2025, the United States conducted a series of air strikes against ISIS terrorists in Sokoto State as part of its security collaboration with Nigeria.

In May 2026, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters announced that more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters were killed during coordinated U.S.-Nigeria air strikes in Metele, Borno State.

Similarly, in June 2026, the Nigerian military, working with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), carried out another successful air strike in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, eliminating 21 ISWAP fighters.

The operations formed part of ongoing counter-terrorism efforts aimed at degrading the operational capabilities of ISIS-affiliated groups in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West.