After the United States confirmed it carried out airstrikes agains Islamist terrorists in north-western Nigeria in coordination with the Nigerian government, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has explained that the operation was a joint effort planned over time and based on Nigerian intelligence. The US Africa Command later stated that the operation took place in Sokoto State and was conducted, describing the attack as a “powerful and deadly strike.”
Tuggar stressed that the strikes were aimed at terrorists and had nothing to do with religion. Nigerian officials also said further strikes could happen, depending on decisions made by both governments.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said the strikes targeted terrorists who he claimed were mainly killing Christians. Trump had claimed that Christians are being specifically persecuted in Nigeria which have disputed by Nigerian authorities and independent violence-monitoring groups.
These groups say there is no evidence that Christians are being killed more than Muslims, noting that Nigeria is almost evenly divided between the two religions. They also point out that jihadist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have killed mostly Muslims over the years.
