Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has confirmed that the U.S. airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day against extremist targets in northwest Nigeria were executed with Nigeria’s full coordination and intelligence support. Tuggar emphasised that the operation was not unilateral but part of ongoing security cooperation between Abuja and Washington.
Speaking in Abuja, Tuggar revealed that Nigerian authorities provided critical intelligence that enabled the precision strikes, noting that he communicated directly with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shortly before the operation. He also said that President Bola Tinubu explicitly approved the joint approach, underscoring respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and strategic interests in combating terrorism.
Tuggar and government sources stressed that the airstrikes were designed to target Islamic State-linked militants and other extremist elements threatening security in the region, and were not aimed at any particular religious group. The collaborative nature of the operation reflects a broader framework of intelligence sharing and coordinated planning aimed at degrading militant capabilities while adhering to international law and Nigeria’s national interests.
Officials also highlighted that the joint operation demonstrates Nigeria’s willingness to partner with strategic allies to address complex security challenges, while maintaining ownership of the operational decision-making and ensuring that actions on Nigerian soil are conducted transparently and with federal government approval.
