Nigeria’s government has confirmed that recent U.S. military airstrikes targeting Islamic State-linked militants in the country’s northwest were carried out with full authorization from Abuja and did not breach Nigeria’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said on Friday that the strikes were conducted as part of a coordinated security operation approved by President Bola Tinubu, following public remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledging the action.
Speaking in an interview with CNN after the Christmas Day strikes, Tuggar said the operation was the result of close collaboration between Nigerian and U.S. security authorities, stressing that Nigeria remained firmly in control of decisions affecting its territory.
“We collaborated on this attack. It was a joint effort between Nigeria and the United States, and President Tinubu gave the authorization before it happened,” Tuggar said. “We do not see this as a violation of our sovereignty or territorial integrity, which is very important to us.”
The Federal Government later confirmed the airstrikes, reinforcing Tuggar’s statement that the operation had been sanctioned at the highest level of government.
A day earlier, President Trump said U.S. forces had carried out what he described as “numerous perfect strikes” against Islamic State fighters operating in northwestern Nigeria. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the attacks were aimed at militants responsible for deadly assaults and warned that further action would follow if violence continued.
U.S. officials have not released operational details, but Nigerian authorities said the strikes were part of broader counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.
Addressing concerns that the operation was driven by foreign pressure or religious considerations, Tuggar said Nigeria’s participation was guided solely by security needs and the protection of civilians.
“It is not about religion,” the foreign minister said, adding that the government’s priority was safeguarding lives and property in Nigeria and neighboring countries affected by militant violence.
Read Also: Trump’s Strike And Nigeria’s Moral Collapse
He emphasized that Nigeria retains full authority over its security strategy and does not outsource decisions regarding its national defense.
Tuggar also responded to questions about whether the airstrikes could lead to the deployment of U.S. ground forces in Nigeria. He said any such decision would rest entirely with Nigeria’s military and security institutions.
“These are operational matters that would have to be assessed by our defense and security agencies,” he said, making clear that no foreign government dictates Nigeria’s internal security posture.
The foreign minister said Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy prioritizes practical outcomes rather than abstract debates, noting that militant violence remains a serious threat in parts of the country despite years of military operations.
Nigeria has faced persistent attacks from jihadist groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram factions, particularly in the northeast and increasingly in the northwest, according to security analysts and international observers.
