Nigeria has formally confirmed its security and intelligence collaboration with the United States following air strikes on terrorist targets in Jabo village in Sokoto State on Christmas day.
In a statement issued midnight on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the strikes were part of structured security cooperation and intelligence sharing between Nigeria and international partners, including the United States, aimed at countering terrorism and violent extremism.
The statement signed by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, explained that the cooperation, which led to precision air strikes on terrorist locations, aligns with established international practice and bilateral agreements, and is carried out with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and international law.
According to the statement, the collaboration involves intelligence exchange, strategic coordination, and other forms of security support designed to weaken terrorist networks and prevent cross-border threats.
The Federal Government also reassured Nigerians that all counter-terrorism operations remain guided by the protection of civilian lives, national unity, and respect for the rights and dignity of all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
It stressed that terrorist violence, whether targeting Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Nigeria will continue to engage its partners through established diplomatic and security channels, while strengthening its own security institutions and intelligence capabilities.
In a significant military development, the United States carried out the air strike against Islamist State, I.S targets in Sokoto State, north-west Nigeria.
According to the United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, the strike was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and aimed at dismantling a known I.S cell operating in the region.
The confirmation was issued by AFRICOM via a post on X, formerly Twitter, describing the operation as part of ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist networks.
U.S President, Donald Trump, reacting to the strike on his Truth Social platform, described the operation as “powerful and deadly,” and said it reflects America’s commitment to eliminating terrorist threats at home and abroad.
The development underscores a growing security partnership between Nigeria and the United States, as both countries confront the persistent threat posed by extremist groups expanding across parts of the Sahel and North-West Nigeria.
It also comes against the backdrop of previous warnings by President Trump, who has repeatedly vowed swift and decisive military action against I.S and other terrorist organisations wherever they operate.
This latest strike appears to signal that those threats are now being translated into concrete action on the ground.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
