The Federal Government has confirmed that recent airstrikes targeting terrorists in Nigeria’s North-West were carried out through security and intelligence cooperation with the United States.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said Nigeria remains engaged in structured security collaboration with international partners, including the US, to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
According to the ministry, the cooperation involves intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and other forms of support, which led to precision airstrikes on identified terrorist targets in the North-West. It stressed that the collaboration was conducted in line with international law and with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“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.
The government added that terrorist violence, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values as well as to international peace and security.
The confirmation followed comments by United States President Donald Trump, who said US forces had carried out deadly strikes against Islamic State terrorists operating in Northwestern Nigeria. Trump claimed the militants had been targeting and killing civilians, particularly Christians, and warned that further action would follow if the attacks continued.
In a separate statement, the US Defence Secretary said the operation was conducted with the cooperation and support of the Nigerian government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigeria would continue to work with its partners through established diplomatic and security channels to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats.
The airstrikes came amid heightened security concerns following a bomb attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, which killed five people and injured several others.
The government assured Nigerians that it would continue to keep the public informed through official channels as efforts to address insecurity intensify nationwide.
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