Dalena Reporters l December 26, 2025
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially confirmed that it is engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to address terrorism and violent extremism following recent air strikes on terrorist targets in the North West of the country, government sources said Friday. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the collaboration with U.S. forces has resulted in precision hits on Islamist militant sites, described as part of ongoing efforts to counter the persistent threat posed by extremist groups.
In its statement, the ministry emphasised that the cooperation involves intelligence sharing, strategic coordination and other forms of support consistent with international law, mutual respect for national sovereignty, and shared commitments to regional and global security. Nigerian authorities said that protecting civilians is central to all counter-terrorism efforts and reaffirmed that violence directed at any community — whether Christian, Muslim, or otherwise — is unacceptable and contradicts Nigeria’s values and commitment to peace.
The confirmation follows an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who disclosed that American forces conducted air strikes on Christmas Day targeting what he called militant positions linked to the Islamic State and affiliated fighters in northwest Nigeria, asserting that the operations responded to ongoing attacks on civilians in the region. The Nigerian government’s confirmation stressed that such security cooperation adheres to bilateral understandings and aims to weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their logistics and financing, and strengthen Nigeria’s own security and intelligence capabilities.
Despite the coordinated military action, Nigerian officials reiterated that terrorism in the country affects all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity, underscoring the complexity of the security challenges facing the nation.